Lisa and Kathryn had been together for 17 years, always dreaming of becoming parents through adoption. After recently completing IVF treatments, they reached out to Adoption in Merseyside (AiM). Initially, they were advised to take some time to reflect on their journey before moving forward.
They explored other agencies but felt drawn to AiM because, as part of the Local Authority, it works closely with children’s teams—giving them a better chance of being matched with a younger child.
We reached out to AiM to start our initial enquiry, and from the very beginning, we felt welcomed and supported. Our social worker was kind and approachable, which made the stage 1 process feel calm and manageable.
We were never rushed and allowed to move at a pace that felt right for us. The process was led by us, with lots of helpful information and resources to explore along the way.
The training course was a real eye-opener. It encouraged us to reflect on our own childhoods, relationships, and how we’d approach parenting with therapeutic techniques. Those moments of reflection brought back cherished memories and also helped us prepare emotionally for the journey ahead.
Hearing the stories of other adopters during training was both reassuring and inspiring. It reminded us that while every child’s past holds pain and trauma, love and healing can always come next.
After being approved at panel, just three months later, we were matched with a wonderful little boy who stole our hearts from the start.
Right now, we’re soaking up every moment with our son and cherishing our new family life. We haven’t closed the door on adopting again in the future, but for now, we’re focused on this precious time together.
When we needed advice about our son’s behaviour, the adoption support team was incredible. Their weekly guidance made a real difference, and we now have a dedicated support worker we can turn to whenever we need.
Adoption has brought us so much joy and hope—we’re so grateful for the journey and the people who have supported us along the way.”
