Ariella and Garrett, native St. Louisans, met through friends playing pinball in 2013. While they always had the desire to adopt, the couple first tried to get pregnant but faced infertility for three years. Ariella remembers feeling like she hit a wall and felt as if she could no longer try to get pregnant. She wanted to be carefree again. Ariella reflects “I wanted to stop feeling sorry for myself. Infertility is a silent grieving process. I was not jealous of my friends that were having babies, but instead, I was upset that my infertility took away my friends sharing their joy with me.”
When the pandemic began, Garrett and Ariella started to realize how important beginning their family was. It became their top priority to grow their family through adoption.
In the summer of 2020, they began their adoption journey, feeling a strong desire to adopt from South Korea. They traveled to the nation before and have friends from South Korea. The couple love cooking Korean food and felt close to the culture. South Korea opened their adoptions back up that summer so it felt like the perfect timing.
The adoption of their son, Jeewoo, was an extremely long and grueling process. There were times where their faith in the process was challenged.
For example, the couple’s home study agency did not renew their Hague Accreditation (required by South Korea) so they had to go through an entire second home study including paying a second set of fees. They had to make two trips to South Korea within 6 weeks for a Korean court date and a visa interview. Since much of the timing during the adoption process is so often last minute, flights were incredibly expensive and the cost was exacerbated due to the pandemic. The cost for the two trips was over $17,000.
Ariella and Garrett heard about the Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Grant from another St. Louis area family that adopted a child from South Korea through the same placing agency. This family shared about their experience receiving the grant and encouraged Garrett and Ariella to apply.
After accepting Jeewoo’s referral, they had renewed motivation, feeling like they were nearing the goal of becoming a forever family. Ariella recalls always having a comforting feeling in her heart. “It was almost like God was telling me that it would all work out,” remarked Ariella. “God is the source and the help is always there when we need it. It really did work out! We were able to get out of this adoption debt free, and we are so grateful for that.”
Grants like the Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Grant were remarkably helpful in getting the new family of three through the last few months of unexpected fees and expenses. Ariella commented “We were able to take a deep breath and know that there would be help.” It gives the couple much more solace in feeling like they could afford to fulfill their desire to adopt again with that extra help.
Ariella would like to encourage others to apply for the grant as it has helped her family immensely. She would also like to invite others to be open to adopting. During the adoption referral, Jeewoo had unexpected medical needs. Ariella and Garrett trusted the process. “We thought, this is a child that needs parents and we are parents that need a child,” said Ariella. “It is a daunting process with a lot of red tape, but I would do it over and over again if it would lead me to Jeewoo every time. Jeewoo is truly the most amazing thing that has ever happened to Garrett and I. He has been one of our greatest teachers and the source of our greatest joy. The love and bond is instant when you meet your child for the first time. It is unreal.”
Ariella and Garrett hope their story can inspire others to consider adoption and to donate to the Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Grant.
Thank you Ariella and Garrett for sharing your story! We always love hearing how God blesses families through the Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Grant. Please click here for more information about the adoption grant and to learn how to donate. The Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Adoption Grant is funded entirely by private donations and fundraising efforts. The more we raise, the more we can give to deserving families! Please consider donating or hosting a fundraising event at your parish to support the fund.