"Not a shelter made of bricks, but a heart that understands, that covers, that loves." – Mother Teresa

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Zena Shares Her Story ...

Shortly after I realized I was pregnant, I knew I had a major life decision to make.  In considering placing my child for adoption, many issues had to be resolved.  Could I keep and parent my child?  Could I afford housing, transportation, and childcare on the income I could earn based on my current education level?  The final question I asked myself was, “Do I have adequate family support to be a single parent?”  This all boils down to the big question: “What is best for my baby?”

When I became a Hannah’s House Mom, I was completely uneducated about open adoption and adoption in general.  Initially, I reviewed multiple profiles from families wanting to adopt.  Soon, I recognized that some families were not comfortable with staying in touch with the birthmother following the birth of the baby.  I then became more educated about adoption and discovered significant differences in levels of ongoing contact between birthmothers and the adoptiver families.  Having considered new information, I opted to review additional profiles of families who would encourage contact with me throughout the child’s life. 

I come from a very dysfunctional family with a history of drugs and abuse that landed me in the foster care system shortly after my mom was sent to prison.  During my younger years, I found myself repeating this cycle because I didn’t know anything different.  After failing, and hitting rock bottom a number of times over the course of the past ten years, I realized “my way” was not working and I yearned for something different.  

At the age of 29, and eight months pregnant, I decided to break the dysfunctional cycle because of the love this child created in my heart.  I have learned to love with a part of my heart that I didn’t know existed, and I am learning and growing every day in the healthiest way.  I thank God every day that Hannah’s House has given me this opportunity to flourish and be the woman and mother I know I can be, and that I want to be.

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