Posted on April 20, 2013
Twenty-two years ago, New York Times bestselling author, Patti Callahan Henry’s sister Barbi placed a baby girl for adoption. Then in April 2010, a Facebook request put an end to all the waiting and wondering. It’s time to hear the true stories that inspired Henry’s fictional novel And Then I Found You. Enjoy our series of Q&A’s with Barbi and Patti.
You were 23 years old. One word to describe the moment you discovered you were pregnant.
Fear.
Why did you choose adoption?
Actually, I chose adoption very late in the pregnancy. By the time it was finalized, I was within three weeks of my due date. The decision was a process that started when I was about seven months pregnant. I was working with a counselor and looking at my options, which helped me realize that I wasn’t in an ideal situation. I didn’t want to continue making the selfish choices that led up to the pregnancy and I didn’t want my baby to start her life without a ‘full’ family, since I wasn’t planning on getting married to the birth father. Her future would always have her caught between his future life and marriage, as well as mine.
I was walking on the beach - working through the pros/cons of what to do and how to do it. It was literally just a God moment. “Of course this is what I have to do,” I spoke out loud. I went back and immediately set the wheels in motion, calling my counselor and setting up interviews. It was a turning page and I knew that [adoption] was the right thing to do. No choice was easy…I felt that it was the best thing for my baby, for her future.
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