Adoption News

FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH ADOPTED BABY

Simsbury couple experiences first Christmas with adopted baby

by Glenn Shafer, Imprint Newspaper staff writer

December 23, 2005

SIMSBURY - Jackie and Chris Brooke, residents of the Weatogue section of Simsbury, are having a great holiday season. They adopted a baby girl, Madeline, from the Hunan Provence in China in March of this year and now at 23 months old, her 2nd birthday is fast approaching on January 21,2006.

Jackie grew up in Avon and graduated from the Ethel Walker School and Roanoke College. She is feeling blessed to have such a healthy, bright, energetic, and beautiful daughter.

"To adopt is a complete leap of faith," said Jackie. "To have this amazing child is such a gift. We both won. She has a family and we have a family. We could only hope she was healthy and all we wanted was for her to be happy. You don't know. It is a complete unknown and we feel very blessed."

Chris, a graduate of Watkinson School and the Ohio State University, is an all-around athlete and looks forward to showing Madeline how to play sports. According to Jackie, Chris is sure to teach Madeline how to play golf, lacrosse, skiing, skating, and tennis.

Jackie and Chris first investigated adoption through Lutheran Social Services in Rocky Hill, referred by a friend who was considering adoption. It was an informational meeting in December of 2003 that introduced them to the idea of adopting a baby from China. Within a month, Jackie and Chris completed the adoption paperwork, coincidentally booking the adoption papers on January 21, Madeline's birthday.

The idea of adopting a baby from China stuck with Jackie and Chris because they were told the odds were very good that their adoption wishes would be fulfilled in a timely manner. Jackie and Chris took the 30-hour trip to China in March of this year to pick up Madeline with both an interpreter and a guide from Lutheran Social Services. Jackie said China is fascinating and they wanted to learn as much about the place where Madeline was born.

"It is such a relief," said Jackie. "We were waiting for so long and we were unsure how the child was going to react. Of course, she is going to be scared. We held her in our arms. Before that, we had only three pictures of her and it was incredible to see her eyes come to life. She was 13 months old when we adopted her."

This year, Madeline's growth has been intense.

"She was very quiet," said Jackie. "She didn't cry very much at first. She was getting used to us and her new environment. I think she was upset, but didn't know why. We were told there is a grieving process for young babies adopted. It is amazing how resilient these children are. Now, she is so happy, bright and playful. She is so much fun. It was wonderful we were able to see her crawl, talk and walk. we saw her develop a lot this year."

Jackie and Chris both have family in the Farmington Valley so Madeline gets some extra attention from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

"It is like we have had her forever," said Jackie.