You may not have intended to adopt a child with special needs, or perhaps you did. Regardless of how you arrived at this point, you find yourself searching for answers online and scheduling doctor appointments in hopes of finding the right path for your child. If this resonates with you, this episode is so important. Adoption is a journey, and often, challenges arise after finalization. April and Season, both experienced adoptive moms, understand this reality. The perfect story may face hurdles, but it can still be incredibly beautiful. Season Cowdrey is a returning guest on ADOPTION NOW. She shared her story in 2017, and she is back to share her post-adoption story. In this new ADOPTION NOW segment called "Real Moms - Real Adoption," April and Jordan sit down with Season to discuss the realities of adoption. Season wants parents to know that there are resources available to help adoptive families with special needs. While Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are helpful for school, there is also support available for home life. Finding the right diagnosis (and sometimes medications) can be challenging and may feel like a battle, but it is a fight worth having. Sometimes, the hardest step is coming to terms with the reality that entering the world of adoption often also means stepping into the world of special needs. To hear Season's full adoption story, check out her episode here!

Shannon and Nick grew up in Texas and met while attending Texas A&M University. They have been happily married since 2018, but their journey has not been without challenges. After several years of trying to start a family and experiencing multiple losses, they decided to buy an RV and travel, all while seeking God's guidance for their next steps. In early 2022, they decided to pursue adoption.

After their travels in the RV, they chose to leave Texas and move to Colorado, excited for new adventures and eager to start their family. They began working with an adoption consultant and eventually matched with an agency. However, this led to an ADOPTION SCAM!! They were at the airport, ready with car seats and strollers to bring home twin boys, when they were informed that the birth mother had disappeared and there were no babies. Not only had they lost their dream of becoming parents, but they had also invested over $65,000, which was now gone. This story is one of resilience and finding one's voice as a potential adoptive parent. Their experience transformed a heartbreaking situation into a story of hope, ultimately leading to a twin blessing.

This episode tells a beautiful story of love, family, and faith! Nick and Kelsey, high school sweethearts from Texas, always felt that God had placed the hope of adoption in their hearts. After getting married and having two biological daughters, Lyla and Lily, they discovered ADOPTION NOW. They began listening to stories of other families bringing children home through adoption and started exploring the concept of open adoption. They felt called by God to embark on this adoption journey. However, as many know, being called to a path does not mean it will be free of challenges, discouragements, or deep questions. Nick and Kelsey share how their hearts transformed throughout the process, especially when meeting a very special birth mother named Mikayla. This story unfolds into a beautiful union of families, with a precious baby boy at the center of it all.