Sometimes the path to parenthood looks nothing like we planned.

For Kristen, years of infertility led to adoption... and ten days after bringing her daughter home from the NICU, a cystic fibrosis diagnosis turned her world upside down again.

In this episode, she shares what it’s been like to navigate open adoption alongside the realities of raising a medically complex child: the intertwined joy of becoming a parent and the heartbreak of another family’s separation, the shock of adiagnosis, the fog of early grief, the gaps in family medical history, and the delicate balance of honoring her daughter’s birth family while advocating for her care.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to navigate disability and adoption at the same time, this conversation pulls back the curtain.

Links:

Join The Rare Life newsletter and never miss an update!

Fill out our contact form to join upcoming discussion groups!

Follow us on Instagram @the_rare_life!

Connect with Kristen on Instagram @deep_delightful_life!

Donate to the podcast or Contact me about sponsoring an episode.

Follow the Facebook page.

Join the Facebook group Parents of Children with Rare Conditions.

Access the transcript on the website here.

And if you love this podcast, please leave us a rating or review in your favorite podcast app!