Gretchen knew that Lindsey and Steve had their hearts set on adopting another baby, but that all of that would have to wait. Lindsey even had to quit her part-time job that the couple had managed to work out, with the hopes it would earn enough money to pay for the adoption. One of Gretchen’s very last requests to me, then, was to try to find a way to help Lindsey and Steve adopt a baby and put their lives back on track after Lindsey had so totally derailed them for the sake of another in need. In a world where so many confused and abused young women are making the wrong decision by taking life, it’s a delight for me to share with Remnant readers the story of a dedicated young Catholic lady who is desperately trying to give it.
The greatest cross in Lindsey and Steve’s young married life so far has been that they are unable to conceive a child of their own. They want a large family more than anything else, and in fact have already adopted one child. They are traditional Catholics who attend the Latin Mass every Sunday. They will homeschool (even as they themselves were homeschooled), and they will raise the children they are able to adopt in a beautiful, loving and traditional Catholic home. I spoke to Lindsey the other day and was reminded all over again that although my sister passed away many months ago, dear Lindsey—Gretchen’s liver donor— has been recuperating from her own liver surgery ever since. In fact, she’s just now feeling strong enough and healthy enough to begin seriously revisiting her dream of adopting another child. Lindsey’s sister has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise much-needed funds for an adoption. The following is the little description taken directly from GoFundMe:
Lindsey and Stephen started dating in September of 2008 and married in June, 2009. From the moment they met they knew they wanted to start a family and they couldn’t wait to meet their children.
After four years of trying, they decided to adopt, still eager to share their love and home with children. After two years of waiting and a loan to cover part of the $36,000 adoption costs, they were chosen to be the parents of a beautiful little boy, Jacob. Jacob is now two years old. He has been the biggest joy and blessing of their lives. They would love to adopt again because they very much want to share their home with a child in need of one.
They had to postpone the second adoption to allow Lindsey to donate her liver to Gretchen Mills, her husband’s aunt who was dying of auto-immune hepatitis. The 15-hour surgery required a week’s stay in the hospital and a three-month intense recovery period, and up to a year for full recovery.
Lindsey and Stephen’s family and friends wanted to start this fund as a way to help them grow their family especially in the wake of their personal sacrifices to help another family.
Adoption is an expensive process, whether international or domestic. There are home studies and inspections, background checks, legal fees, etc. Jacob’s adoption was $36, 000 and this adoption is expected to be a similar cost. Lindsey and Stephen have already raised and saved enough to start the facilitation process and are currently on a list waiting to be chosen.
Any help you could offer would go a long way toward making this dream come true! Even $5 can make a big difference - there is no such thing as too small a donation!
Remnant readers interested in helping this young traditional Catholic couple adopt and raise a child can do so directly from this link: https://www.gofundme.com/rfwvr-bringing-home-baby
God bless you, Lindsey, and Godspeed. We’ll never forget how hard you tried to save the life of the sister we loved so very much. I’m sure Gretchen will do everything she can, too, from wherever she is, to help you and Steve find the baby for whom you’ve been longing and waiting for so long.
St. Anne, please intercede on behalf of Lindsey and Steve
