Donation protected
We ask that you NOT share this on Facebook or any Social Media accounts. Due to the sensitive nature of this adoption, and the response we would receive from Elijah's biological father, we have to keep this confidential until the time of filing papers, and entering the court process.
This has been a long time coming for our family.....
When Randy came into our lives 5 years ago, Elijah and I were living solo. I was a single mother, and he had no father figure in his life. Randy immediately filled that role, not because he wanted to impress me, not because he felt obligated. He stepped into that roll because he fell in love with Elijah in such a way that he couldn't avoid it. He quickly became, "Daddy" and the rest is history. Elijah has endured a lot of heartache in relation to his biological father. He's had to process the feelings of rejection at a young age. Randy, Daddy, has lightened that pain.
About a year ago we began discussing stepparent adoption privately. Soon after, Elijah began asking about it also. This blew our minds. He wanted his Daddy's last name. Since the arrival of his little sister, this has been magnified. Elijah often expresses that he is the only one in our house who isn't a "Cooper”, and this breaks our hearts.
We will be moving in May, and we would like to start fresh new in our town with all of us being Coopers. No more questions, no more funny looks when we fill out school forms, or church registration. Elijah won't feel alienated anymore.
Randy is his Daddy. An adoption won't change things in that sense. We simply want to make it "official" and allow Elijah to finally have his Daddy's name.
While we would love to carry this on our own, and have tried to find a way for months, we simply don't have the retainer that is required to begin the adoption process. With Randy still in medical school, and my income supporting our family of 4, it isn't within our means. We are humbled to have to ask for help, but we want to get this adoption complete before we move in May/June. Any help that can be offered will be so appreciated. Thank you!
The Coopers (and a Jones)
This has been a long time coming for our family.....
When Randy came into our lives 5 years ago, Elijah and I were living solo. I was a single mother, and he had no father figure in his life. Randy immediately filled that role, not because he wanted to impress me, not because he felt obligated. He stepped into that roll because he fell in love with Elijah in such a way that he couldn't avoid it. He quickly became, "Daddy" and the rest is history. Elijah has endured a lot of heartache in relation to his biological father. He's had to process the feelings of rejection at a young age. Randy, Daddy, has lightened that pain.
About a year ago we began discussing stepparent adoption privately. Soon after, Elijah began asking about it also. This blew our minds. He wanted his Daddy's last name. Since the arrival of his little sister, this has been magnified. Elijah often expresses that he is the only one in our house who isn't a "Cooper”, and this breaks our hearts.
We will be moving in May, and we would like to start fresh new in our town with all of us being Coopers. No more questions, no more funny looks when we fill out school forms, or church registration. Elijah won't feel alienated anymore.
Randy is his Daddy. An adoption won't change things in that sense. We simply want to make it "official" and allow Elijah to finally have his Daddy's name.
While we would love to carry this on our own, and have tried to find a way for months, we simply don't have the retainer that is required to begin the adoption process. With Randy still in medical school, and my income supporting our family of 4, it isn't within our means. We are humbled to have to ask for help, but we want to get this adoption complete before we move in May/June. Any help that can be offered will be so appreciated. Thank you!
The Coopers (and a Jones)
Organizer
Leilani Randy Cooper
Organizer
Farragut, TN