Thankful Family
By Andrea Fuguet
Published Nov 2011
in the Central Florida Lifestyle magazine
For
centuries, families have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving and share with
each other why they are thankful. They go to dinner, feast on turkey and dish what
made this year, and the ones before, extra special. For Jackie Carroll and
her husband Chris of Avalon Park this is no different except they
have five reasons to be grateful for: their five children, ages 3 to 11. It’s been
said that hope is the last thing that should be lost. Jackie and Chris are the
perfect example of this, faith that never falters and perseverance. Fourteen
years ago when Jackie and Chris exchanged their vows they knew that they couldn’t
conceive, but they also knew they wanted to have children someday. Before they
got married, Jackie was diagnosed with a rare lung disease that affects about
1,000 women in the world. She was told that getting pregnant would be risky. A
few years after the wedding, they started to look into adoption for a way to
make their family grow.
“We
knew we couldn’t have children, we knew we had to go through adoption. Now we
are very happy and very busy. It’s a scary thing to adopt, but in the end is
very fulfilling,” Jackie says.
Table
For Seven, Please
In
2000, Jackie and Chris brought home their first child, a 15-month-old baby boy
followed by his older sister in 2002. A year later the Carrolls welcomed a
1-year-old boy and in 2004 and 2008 the family of five grew by two with the addition
of their youngest children. They are now the proud parents of five healthy and beautiful kids. “I’m so lucky to have them and my husband,” Jackie says. Jackie’s
husband Chris has been supporting his wife
ever since they got married and through the
process of adopting. Jackie says she is lucky
to have Chris to count on and appreciates the
support her family has given her from day one. “I’m
very thankful for my parents. They are very
supportive of us and our children,” says
Jackie. “No matter how frustrating things get
you can always count on family.” She enjoys motherhood along with her husband, who Jackie says, works hard for the well being of Jackie and his five children.
Besides adoption being a difficult process for anyone to go through it is also very rewarding. “The best part of adopting is getting past not being able to have children and providing kids with a home. Yes, that’s the best part, having a family and raising children,” Jackie says.
Giving Back to
the Community
While adoption
provides families with great joy and fulfilling experiences it isn’t always
easy. It can be a complicated process and at times overwhelming. Knowing this
from experience, Jackie founded the Orlando Adoption Network (OAN), a
discussion group for families who are planning to adopt or are adopting a
child. The network’s main goal is to provide families with strength and support
they might need during the process of bringing a child home and providing them
with a home as well as answering any question they may have. “It’s a difficult
process. It can be expensive and tough. The group helps them figure out and
navigate through the journey of adoption,” says Jackie. The OAN first meeting
was back in 2006 and later in 2008 they started meeting in Avalon Church. Since
every family has a different experience to share, the discussion group is there
to listen and provide information about adoption. “Our group helps people go
through the process and not be overwhelmed. It also helps them figure out the
best way to bring a child home,” says Jackie.
Jackie and the OAN
also help families realize some of the preconceived notions about adoption that
they may have. “For some, adoption is the second option or plan B,” says
Jackie. “What they don’t know is that adoption isn’t plan B, it’s a different
plan A.” She says that the adopted baby is just as great as any other baby.
Adopting isn’t a last option but a new option. The OAN discusses many topics from
when to tell your child to giving information about adopting children of different
ethnicities. They meet once a month on a Sunday from 3-6 p.m. Visit OrlandoAdoptioNetwork.com
for more information about the group or check out their Facebook page.
Moving On
Jackie couldn’t be
happier and luckier. With 11 years of being a mom under her belt, she knows it
is difficult and she’s constantly on the go while still having time to get
together with other families and provide them with the support and the
information they may need. This year she’s planning a trip to the mountains. “We
like the private time and not having to worry about the chores,” she says. For
Jackie life hasn’t always been easy, but she moves on with a one step forward
and a smile. She enjoys the fact that she gets to share her story for couples out
there that would like to adopt someday. This Thanksgiving and the ones to come
she’s grateful for her family. She’s proud to say that thanksgiving is her
favorite holiday and that she has plenty of reasons to be thankful.
“I have been able to stay healthy and have a
family. I am truly grateful,” Jackie says.
Orlando family has a
home full of love. They didn’t have
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