Surrogacy and adoption have long been common avenues for growing a family. But two couples from Texas have given this approach a unique spin by keeping the process within one biological family.

Scott Gordon reported on this unique adoption story in a Feb. 5 article on NBCChicago.com:

In a unique case mixing adoption and a kind of surrogacy, a Fort Worth couple agreed to give their newborn son to their siblings, a couple unable to have children themselves. ...

That's right: Christopher Ryan Smith, who was born Tuesday at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, will be staying in the family even as he is adopted by new parents.

His biological mother is his adoptive father's sister. His biological father is his adoptive mother's brother. ...

The adopting couple had tried for years. We just kind of gave up hope, said Amy Smith. This is all weve wanted is to have a baby of our own.

Hes definitely a gift, and were going to cherish him, said Amys husband, Ryan.

Labels: biological_parents, biological_children

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A baby born to a surrogate mother in India is now in limbo after the parents divorced and the mom decided she didn't want the baby.

"Commercial surrogacy has been legal in India since 2002 and the child born of such an agreement is then legally adopted by its biological parents. But Indian law does not allow single men to adopt."

Consequently, the baby is still in the hospital, and is now deemed an orphan. Lawmakers are unsure how to proceed or how to fully release the baby so she can be adopted by someone else. Source: Daily Mail (UK)

Labels: orphans, biological_parents, surrogate

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Katie was adopted by Eileen and Dave Kibble when she was 3 days old. Twenty-three years later, she was unexpectedly contacted by her biological mother who told her she has a brother and a sister.

"Eileen Kibble arranged a surprise visit for Katie and Marci in Arizona last July on Katie's 'special day' - the date of her adoption... Katie said when she first encountered Marci in the lobby of the motel in Phoenix 'it was like a fairytale movie.'"

This year, Marci is going to visit Katie and her adoptive family in St. Charles during the Downtown Partnership's Sisters Weekend. From April 11-13, the Downtown Partnership has planned numerous activities including wine tastings, shopping, and a live concert. Read more at DailyHerald.com.

Labels: biological_parents, birth_parents, siblings

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On Monday, an 8-month-old baby that has been at the center of an unusual adoption case was placed back in the custody of the couple who wants to adopt him. Baby Max's adoption was temporarily halted due to legal complications on the part of the adoptive parents, Gary and Cindy Stocklaufer.

"They lost custody in July for failing to obtain a court order before bringing the boy to Missouri and because an investigation had not been completed."

Initially, Gary Stocklaufer claimed he and his wife lost custody because he was obese; he weighed over 500 pounds at the time. He has since undergone surgery and lost about 200 pounds. The Stocklaufers' attorney called the decision "bittersweet" because an equally loving and qualified couple would have to relinquish custody of Max to the Stocklaufers.

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Labels: biological_parents, birth_parents, complications

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The Florida Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that adoption agencies must notify unmarried men when a child thought to be theirs is being placed for adoption. The ruling comes in the wake of a long court case involving an unmarried man who is trying to restore is parental rights for a boy who was born in August, 2005.

"The court's opinion says men believed to be a child's biological father must be notified of the mother's adoption plan, and that he has 30 days to file a paternity claim with the Putative Father Registry. If he does not file a claim with the registry, his parental rights may be terminated, the opinion states."

The Registry was created in 2003 to prevent birth fathers from contesting adoptions months or years after the adoption had been finalized. Heart of Adoptions, Inc. attorney Jeanne Tate called the ruling a "victory", stating that it will create more "certainty and stability" in the adoption process. Read more at ChronicleOnline.com.

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Labels: adoption rights, biological_parents, fathers

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