KL
01-31-2005, 05:49 AM
http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0130adopt.html
'Twins' delivered an ocean apart
Couple's adopted children both born on same day
By Katherine Ullmer
Dayton Daily News
CENTERVILLE | Two mothers half a world apart gave birth the same day in July
2003. Their babies, a girl born in China, and a boy born in Louisville, Ky.,
became the "twins" John and Donna Gaskins of Springboro had always wanted.
After 10 years of infertility treatments, the Gaskins decided to adopt and
had already applied for a child from China when they got the chance to adopt
a boy at birth in Kentucky, Donna Gaskins said. Not until they got their
paperwork back from China did they find out that Sydney, the girl they were
to adopt from an orphanage there, was born on the same day as their adopted
son, Pearson - July 3, 2003. Both children are now 18 months.
"We always wanted twins, especially a boy and a girl," Donna Gaskins said.
"They're just a little different. She has black hair and he's blond."
Pearson's birth mom, an unwed mother, had sat in an abortion clinic for
several hours, but she couldn't go through with it, John Gaskins said.
"We feel we are the most blessed couple in the world," his wife said. "We
couldn't imagine life without them."
The Gaskins were among several parents who shared their experiences of
adopting children at the third annual Miami Valley Adoption Fair on Saturday
at Fairhaven Church on East Whipp Road in Centerville.
Twenty-eight social-service providers and community groups were represented,
and about 150 people were expected to gather information and discuss
adoption and foster-care questions, said Laura Roesch, development assistant
for Catholic Social Services of Southwestern Ohio. Several 45-minute
workshops dealt with infant domestic adoption, international adoption and
school-age and sibling-group adoption.
Gerald and Michelle Miller of Greenville already had gathered a handful of
literature when they stopped by the Chinese Children Adoption International
booth to ask about adopting a child from China.
"It seems like it would fit our lifestyle," Gerald Miller said. They can't
have children, they said, and hope to adopt several.
Darcy Mader of Fairborn, 37, an adoptive single mother, kept an eye on her
2-year-old adopted daughter, Kylie, from China, while she talked with
hopeful adoptive parents at another booth.
"It provided me with a family without being married," she said. She
continued with the adoption after her divorce.
For Kevin and Katy Weaver, their adoption of Isaac, now 20 months, was
followed by a surprise package - Sam, their biological son, now 5 months
old, despite previous fertility problems.
"Just after finalizing Isaac's adoption, I found out I was pregnant," Katy
Weaver said.
Despite the paperwork, waiting, traveling for international adoptions and
other hassles that can be involved in adoption, the couples interviewed all
said it was worth it.
"We just want people to know there are loving families very anxious to get
placement," Kevin Weaver said. "It's certainly a commitment, but it's worth
everything we did to get Isaac."
Contact Katherine Ullmer at 225-2341
'Twins' delivered an ocean apart
Couple's adopted children both born on same day
By Katherine Ullmer
Dayton Daily News
CENTERVILLE | Two mothers half a world apart gave birth the same day in July
2003. Their babies, a girl born in China, and a boy born in Louisville, Ky.,
became the "twins" John and Donna Gaskins of Springboro had always wanted.
After 10 years of infertility treatments, the Gaskins decided to adopt and
had already applied for a child from China when they got the chance to adopt
a boy at birth in Kentucky, Donna Gaskins said. Not until they got their
paperwork back from China did they find out that Sydney, the girl they were
to adopt from an orphanage there, was born on the same day as their adopted
son, Pearson - July 3, 2003. Both children are now 18 months.
"We always wanted twins, especially a boy and a girl," Donna Gaskins said.
"They're just a little different. She has black hair and he's blond."
Pearson's birth mom, an unwed mother, had sat in an abortion clinic for
several hours, but she couldn't go through with it, John Gaskins said.
"We feel we are the most blessed couple in the world," his wife said. "We
couldn't imagine life without them."
The Gaskins were among several parents who shared their experiences of
adopting children at the third annual Miami Valley Adoption Fair on Saturday
at Fairhaven Church on East Whipp Road in Centerville.
Twenty-eight social-service providers and community groups were represented,
and about 150 people were expected to gather information and discuss
adoption and foster-care questions, said Laura Roesch, development assistant
for Catholic Social Services of Southwestern Ohio. Several 45-minute
workshops dealt with infant domestic adoption, international adoption and
school-age and sibling-group adoption.
Gerald and Michelle Miller of Greenville already had gathered a handful of
literature when they stopped by the Chinese Children Adoption International
booth to ask about adopting a child from China.
"It seems like it would fit our lifestyle," Gerald Miller said. They can't
have children, they said, and hope to adopt several.
Darcy Mader of Fairborn, 37, an adoptive single mother, kept an eye on her
2-year-old adopted daughter, Kylie, from China, while she talked with
hopeful adoptive parents at another booth.
"It provided me with a family without being married," she said. She
continued with the adoption after her divorce.
For Kevin and Katy Weaver, their adoption of Isaac, now 20 months, was
followed by a surprise package - Sam, their biological son, now 5 months
old, despite previous fertility problems.
"Just after finalizing Isaac's adoption, I found out I was pregnant," Katy
Weaver said.
Despite the paperwork, waiting, traveling for international adoptions and
other hassles that can be involved in adoption, the couples interviewed all
said it was worth it.
"We just want people to know there are loving families very anxious to get
placement," Kevin Weaver said. "It's certainly a commitment, but it's worth
everything we did to get Isaac."
Contact Katherine Ullmer at 225-2341
