Reed baby makes dream come true
By Peter Simon
News Staff Reporter
Buffalo Firefighter Mark P. Reed lost his right leg and was in a coma for 31 days after a chimney collapsed on him while he was fighting an arson fire nearly three years ago.
But the accident never weakened his desire to be a father.
That dream — deferred but not derailed — came true last month, when Reed and his wife, Nancy, adopted newborn Connor Michael Reed, a mild-mannered and inquisitive young man with a full head of wavy hair.
The story of the newly expanded Reed family is one of determination, focus and optimism in the face of adversity.
“The bottom line is that life is what you make of it,” said Nancy Reed, an intensive care nurse at South Buffalo Mercy Hospital. “We wanted to pursue our dream. This was our dream.”
The couple was in the process of adopting a child when Reed was severely injured as he tried to take a hose line through the side door of a vacant Wende Street house torched by a 15- year-old youth in June 2007. He suffered a skull fracture, 35 broken bones, a punctured lung and a brain bleed. Reed was given last rites three times.
Parenthood would have to wait.
“I called the [adoption] agency and told them: ‘You’ve got to put us on hold,’ ” Nancy Reed said.
Mark Reed, now 39, emerged from the coma, got out of the hospital after 52 days, underwent extensive rehabilitation and learned to get around with a computerized prosthesis.
“It was a struggle, but my wife pushed me all the time,” Reed said.
Even during the toughest stretches, adoption remained a goal.
“It was always in the back of our minds,” said Nancy Reed, 42. “We never lost sight of it. It’s an emotional roller coaster, but you never give up hope.”
Meanwhile, the Reeds made enormous progress on other fronts.
Mark Reed volunteers as an ambulance dispatcher in Lancaster-Depew, serves on the Lancaster-Depew emergency management team and volunteers in the trauma unit at Erie County Medical Center, where he was a patient.
“I’m not going to be able to go back to the firehouse, but I’ll always be a firefighter,” he said.
Still, questions remained. Would Mark have the stamina and strength to be an active father? Would the Lancaster couple’s relationship remain strong through the stress of the injuries? Would parenthood retain its appeal?
The answers came through loud and clear: Yes, yes and yes.
If anything, the Reeds’ determination to be parents grew even stronger. It was a goal, an impetus, that helped them work through their adversity.
“We wanted to be absolutely sure we could function again as a family,” Nancy Reed said. “We took a deep breath, looked at each other and said: ‘We’re ready to go.’‚”
Their adoption process was reactivated by Adoption STAR, an agency based in Williamsville. In February, an expectant mother, motivated in large measure by media accounts of the Reeds’ courage and strength, chose them as her child’s prospective adoptive parents.
Within minutes, the Reeds accepted.
“It was euphoric,” Nancy Reed said. “Not only that he’s such a beautiful child, but that someone chose us. Someone entrusted their child to us. It’s ‘Wow!’ I don’t have any words but ‘Wow!’ ”
Connor, who watched quietly as his parents were interviewed for this story at Adoption STAR, is fascinated by a ceiling fan in his house but sometimes raises a squawk when it’s time for a bath.
“We just stare at him all the time,” Nancy Reed said. “It’s a great feeling, every second. He’s the best thing that ever happened to us.”
Connor never lacks for attention. His parents talk to him, read children’s books to him and already tell him about his adoption.
“We want him to grow up healthy, strong and confident about himself,” Nancy Reed said. “We want him to know who he is.”
Nancy Reed used to watch other parents with their kids and feel a nagging fear that she might never be a mother.
Now, she says through tears of joy, “We can put Connor on the bus to school and teach him how to ride a bike.”
Connor’s adoption clicked instantly, said Michele Fried, the founder and chief executive officer of Adoption STAR. It was the 400th adoption arranged by Adoption STAR in the agency’s 10th year of operation.
“This was love at first sight,” Fried said of the Reeds’ adoption. “It was something they were so ready for. They truly are one of the most appreciative couples we’ve ever met.”
While Mark’s accident delayed their adoption, the strength the Reeds summoned as a couple will bolster their parenting skills, Fried said.
“What they went through has prepared them to be stronger parents for whatever parenthood might bring,” Fried said. “I have no doubt they’ll be there every step of the way.”
After taking some time off from her nursing duties, Nancy Reed will return to work at Mercy Hospital and Mark Reed will be a stay-at-home dad.
“My No. 1 priority is being a father,” he said. “This is the reason we’re here — to take care of this little guy.”
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Isn’t it Amazing That Grandchildren So Small Can Matter So Much?
Isn’t it Amazing That Grandchildren So Small Can Matter So Much?
By Judy Chick
My heart had felt so much during my almost 65 years of life. It had felt joy and sadness, love and bitterness, happiness and sorrow, life and death. I didn’t know it then but there was a little piece of my heart that was missing. That piece of my heart was miraculously filled in.
They carried him into the nursery of the Adoption STAR Agency, all dressed in yellow. They handed him to my daughter who was seated in a rocking chair with her husband standing next to her. We were all there, except for my daughter’s identical twin sister who lives in Florida, but through the innovation of cell phones, she was able to see for herself and hear for herself. He was the most perfect little baby I ever saw. He had a pink complexion, black hair, dark eyes, little nose, and a rosebud mouth. It was love at first sight, except that everyone’s sight was clouded with tears of joy The amazing thing was how much the baby looked like my husband (Poppy) and my son (his uncle).. The adoption agency had the new mommy and daddy undress him to make sure everything was where it should be and to make sure they knew how to diaper him and redress him.
For those of you who wonder how you would accept an adopted child. Let me tell you. The child may not carry your genes or your blood but he captures your heart in his little smile, your soul in his tight little fists, and your mind in his sweet baby smell. For my daughter, who went through years of fertility treatments to no avail, adoption was an easy next step. For her husband it was more difficult. But when they received this little miracle baby, they knew everything was right. Many adoptive parents still wish to have their own biological children, but not my daughter and son-in- law. They feel so blessed by their son that they feel that God was watching over them and had this plan for them to adopt rather than give birth. People tell us how lucky my grandson is to be part of our family. We don’t feel that way at all. It is we who are blessed. My grandson is now 15 months old and continues to fill us with wonder. He is such a secure little boy, because he seems to know how much he is loved.
When he was 9 months old, our son and daughter-in-law gave birth to twin boys. They wheeled them into the hospital room where my daughter-in-law was lying on the bed. They gave one baby to my daughter-in-law and one baby to my son who was seated beside her. We were all there, except for my daughter’s identical twin sister, who still lives in Florida, but through the invention of cell phones, was able to see and hear for herself. These were the most beautiful babies you ever saw. They had pink complexions, dark hair, blue eyes, little noses, and rosebud mouths. It was love at first sight except everyone’s eyes were clouded with tears of joy. The new mommy and daddy undressed them to make sure everything was where it should be and to practice redressing them. Neither of the babies looked anything like anyone on either side of the family, and at 6 months, they still don’t. They carry our blood and genes, but more importantly they capture that piece of my heart and soul that had been missing .They continue to fill us with wonder.
My three boys all live nearby. Whether they were adopted into our family or born into our family makes absolutely no difference. The fact that they are in our family and I get to be their Grammy, matters a whole lot. My heart continues to feel all the realities of my life before them. But, the best part is that newly filled in piece of my heart that enables my whole heart to feel a greater joy, a deeper love, and an unbridled happiness that never existed before. Isn’t it amazing that people so small can matter so much.
By Judy Chick
My heart had felt so much during my almost 65 years of life. It had felt joy and sadness, love and bitterness, happiness and sorrow, life and death. I didn’t know it then but there was a little piece of my heart that was missing. That piece of my heart was miraculously filled in.
They carried him into the nursery of the Adoption STAR Agency, all dressed in yellow. They handed him to my daughter who was seated in a rocking chair with her husband standing next to her. We were all there, except for my daughter’s identical twin sister who lives in Florida, but through the innovation of cell phones, she was able to see for herself and hear for herself. He was the most perfect little baby I ever saw. He had a pink complexion, black hair, dark eyes, little nose, and a rosebud mouth. It was love at first sight, except that everyone’s sight was clouded with tears of joy The amazing thing was how much the baby looked like my husband (Poppy) and my son (his uncle).. The adoption agency had the new mommy and daddy undress him to make sure everything was where it should be and to make sure they knew how to diaper him and redress him.
For those of you who wonder how you would accept an adopted child. Let me tell you. The child may not carry your genes or your blood but he captures your heart in his little smile, your soul in his tight little fists, and your mind in his sweet baby smell. For my daughter, who went through years of fertility treatments to no avail, adoption was an easy next step. For her husband it was more difficult. But when they received this little miracle baby, they knew everything was right. Many adoptive parents still wish to have their own biological children, but not my daughter and son-in- law. They feel so blessed by their son that they feel that God was watching over them and had this plan for them to adopt rather than give birth. People tell us how lucky my grandson is to be part of our family. We don’t feel that way at all. It is we who are blessed. My grandson is now 15 months old and continues to fill us with wonder. He is such a secure little boy, because he seems to know how much he is loved.
When he was 9 months old, our son and daughter-in-law gave birth to twin boys. They wheeled them into the hospital room where my daughter-in-law was lying on the bed. They gave one baby to my daughter-in-law and one baby to my son who was seated beside her. We were all there, except for my daughter’s identical twin sister, who still lives in Florida, but through the invention of cell phones, was able to see and hear for herself. These were the most beautiful babies you ever saw. They had pink complexions, dark hair, blue eyes, little noses, and rosebud mouths. It was love at first sight except everyone’s eyes were clouded with tears of joy. The new mommy and daddy undressed them to make sure everything was where it should be and to practice redressing them. Neither of the babies looked anything like anyone on either side of the family, and at 6 months, they still don’t. They carry our blood and genes, but more importantly they capture that piece of my heart and soul that had been missing .They continue to fill us with wonder.
My three boys all live nearby. Whether they were adopted into our family or born into our family makes absolutely no difference. The fact that they are in our family and I get to be their Grammy, matters a whole lot. My heart continues to feel all the realities of my life before them. But, the best part is that newly filled in piece of my heart that enables my whole heart to feel a greater joy, a deeper love, and an unbridled happiness that never existed before. Isn’t it amazing that people so small can matter so much.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Local Adoption Agency Sending 1st Volunteer to Orphanage in Haiti
Ft. Lauderdale – February 4, 2010 – Adoption STAR, the Hague accredited, Florida licensed local non-profit adoption agency handling adoptions from Haiti, is sending their first volunteer down to assist at the Renmen orphanage. Renmen is one of the smaller traditional orphanages destroyed by the earthquake that just wasn’t getting needed help until Adoption STAR stepped in.
Thanks to Adoption STAR, Renmen will be receiving aid in the form of much needed tents and mosquito netting to protect the 52 children from the elements and dreaded Malaria, as well as first aid supplies and other needed items. “But the greatest gift of all,” says Renmen Foundation spokesperson, Yanik Goutier, “is that Adoption STAR has matched Fr. Michel Pugin with the Renmen orphanage as a volunteer. He will be spending one month at the orphanage giving the children some normalcy to their lives.”
Annyse Gross, Director of Outreach for Adoption STAR says that she found a number of people frustrated that they have offered their services to fly down to Haiti and have been turned away by agency after agency. “So I started a list,” says Gross. “Adoption STAR had just “adopted” Renmen and I simply asked if they could use any volunteers. Their answer was a resounding ‘yes’.”
The orphanage reports that every day the children ask when school will start again. Fr. Michel will be leaving at the end of this month to fulfill the children’s request. Speaking fluent French will be a big help. “This is what I was ordained to do,” says Fr Michel. “Help and comfort those who need it most. I can’t tell you how excited I am that I’m going.”
To assure Fr. Michel’s safe travels, the director of Renmen Orphanage, Florence Thybulle, has arranged her schedule to escort him down to Haiti.
As Director of the orphanage, Florence Thybulle’s timing couldn’t be more perfect. She will be the Guest of Honor at Adoption STAR’s Open House on February 18th. “In addition to learning first hand about the conditions in Haiti, we want people to come to our open house, learn about the many types of adoption and see all the exciting support and educational components Adoption STAR is bringing to South Florida,” says Michele Fried, Founder and Chair of Adoption STAR. Donations of supplies as well as monetary donations will be accepted at the open house to be distributed to the orphanages Adoption STAR works with according to their wish lists. For further information call 954-566-6055 or visit www.adoptionstar.com
Thanks to Adoption STAR, Renmen will be receiving aid in the form of much needed tents and mosquito netting to protect the 52 children from the elements and dreaded Malaria, as well as first aid supplies and other needed items. “But the greatest gift of all,” says Renmen Foundation spokesperson, Yanik Goutier, “is that Adoption STAR has matched Fr. Michel Pugin with the Renmen orphanage as a volunteer. He will be spending one month at the orphanage giving the children some normalcy to their lives.”
Annyse Gross, Director of Outreach for Adoption STAR says that she found a number of people frustrated that they have offered their services to fly down to Haiti and have been turned away by agency after agency. “So I started a list,” says Gross. “Adoption STAR had just “adopted” Renmen and I simply asked if they could use any volunteers. Their answer was a resounding ‘yes’.”
The orphanage reports that every day the children ask when school will start again. Fr. Michel will be leaving at the end of this month to fulfill the children’s request. Speaking fluent French will be a big help. “This is what I was ordained to do,” says Fr Michel. “Help and comfort those who need it most. I can’t tell you how excited I am that I’m going.”
To assure Fr. Michel’s safe travels, the director of Renmen Orphanage, Florence Thybulle, has arranged her schedule to escort him down to Haiti.
As Director of the orphanage, Florence Thybulle’s timing couldn’t be more perfect. She will be the Guest of Honor at Adoption STAR’s Open House on February 18th. “In addition to learning first hand about the conditions in Haiti, we want people to come to our open house, learn about the many types of adoption and see all the exciting support and educational components Adoption STAR is bringing to South Florida,” says Michele Fried, Founder and Chair of Adoption STAR. Donations of supplies as well as monetary donations will be accepted at the open house to be distributed to the orphanages Adoption STAR works with according to their wish lists. For further information call 954-566-6055 or visit www.adoptionstar.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
Another way to support orphans in Haiti
A wonderful collaboration has come together. Read below:
Forever In Our Hearts…Honor One Tragedy By Giving To Another
Families of Flight 3407, Celebrate Buffalo Apparel and Adoption STAR
Partner To Benefit Haiti Victims
Buffalo, N.Y. – January 29, 2009 – On February 12, 2009 our community was shocked and saddened by the plane crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center.
On January 12, 2010, lives were shattered in Haiti with a devastating earthquake.
Today, help honor the families and victims of one tragedy close to our hearts by giving to another. The families of Flight 3407 and Celebrate Buffalo apparel announce the launch of Flight 3407 memorial t-shirt, Forever In Our Hearts. 100% of proceeds from each $20 t-shirt sold will benefit orphaned children in Haiti through Adoption STAR, a non-profit child placing agency.
Laura Voigt, sister of Ellyce Kausner and liaison to Flight 3407 families said, “In the darkness of our tragedy, there is the good. The spirit of every life lost on Flight 3407 lives with every life that is touched in Haiti.”
“The funds raised will directly benefit two orphanages in Haiti through four specific projects: rebuilding the orphanages, sending food and supplies needed, continuing advocacy efforts to increase the number of orphans who are able to come to the U.S. under humanitarian parole and to set up a home in South Florida to provide immediate care for orphans as we identify whether or not they have living relatives in Haiti,” said Michele Fried, founder and CEO, Adoption STAR.
WGRZ Channel 2 News and WBEN 930 AM Radio are proud sponsors of Forever In Our Hearts.
Starting Saturday, January 30, visit www.celebratebuffalo.com to purchase online, or visit the following retail locations:
Spoiled Rotten Bay 6 Clothing Hollywood Collectibles
831 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo Southgate Plaza, West Seneca McKinley Mall, Blasdell
Poster Art Tee Shirt University
Boulevard Mall, Amherst Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga
About Celebrate Buffalo
Celebrate Buffalo Inc. headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y. and founded in 2005 by Adam Wilson and Joseph Garlipp. The idea was formed around the desire to illustrate the unique spirit of our Queen City and design merchandise Buffalonians would be proud to wear. Wilson and Garlipp later branched off to become Celebrate Buffalo, Inc. and own the "I Love Buffalo" trademark, which includes the popular "I Love Buffalo Hockey" and "I Love Buffalo Football" merchandise. For additional information about Celebrate Buffalo, visit www.celebratebuffalo.com.
About Adoption STAR
Many people today are lost and confused when it comes to adoption planning. Now there is an agency to offer them guidance. Adoption S.T.A.R. (Support, Training, Advocacy & Resources), a Non-Profit (501c3) New York State Authorized, Florida and Ohio Licensed, Adoption Agency, is a compassionate and unique organization. Adoption S.T.A.R. allows prospective adoptive parents and expectant parents to explore all the adoption options and to receive the appropriate information and education necessary to access those options. The agency has a passion for identifying homes for infants who are at risk for entering the foster care system. Adoption S.T.A.R. is an agency dedicated to maintaining connections between adoptive families and birth families and offers education and support with an adoption plan. For additional information about Adoption STAR, visit www.adoptionstar.com.
Editor’s Note: Interviews are available by contacting Marissa Wilson at (716) 523-6817, or Adam Wilson at (716) 984-7065.
Forever In Our Hearts…Honor One Tragedy By Giving To Another
Families of Flight 3407, Celebrate Buffalo Apparel and Adoption STAR
Partner To Benefit Haiti Victims
Buffalo, N.Y. – January 29, 2009 – On February 12, 2009 our community was shocked and saddened by the plane crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center.
On January 12, 2010, lives were shattered in Haiti with a devastating earthquake.
Today, help honor the families and victims of one tragedy close to our hearts by giving to another. The families of Flight 3407 and Celebrate Buffalo apparel announce the launch of Flight 3407 memorial t-shirt, Forever In Our Hearts. 100% of proceeds from each $20 t-shirt sold will benefit orphaned children in Haiti through Adoption STAR, a non-profit child placing agency.
Laura Voigt, sister of Ellyce Kausner and liaison to Flight 3407 families said, “In the darkness of our tragedy, there is the good. The spirit of every life lost on Flight 3407 lives with every life that is touched in Haiti.”
“The funds raised will directly benefit two orphanages in Haiti through four specific projects: rebuilding the orphanages, sending food and supplies needed, continuing advocacy efforts to increase the number of orphans who are able to come to the U.S. under humanitarian parole and to set up a home in South Florida to provide immediate care for orphans as we identify whether or not they have living relatives in Haiti,” said Michele Fried, founder and CEO, Adoption STAR.
WGRZ Channel 2 News and WBEN 930 AM Radio are proud sponsors of Forever In Our Hearts.
Starting Saturday, January 30, visit www.celebratebuffalo.com to purchase online, or visit the following retail locations:
Spoiled Rotten Bay 6 Clothing Hollywood Collectibles
831 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo Southgate Plaza, West Seneca McKinley Mall, Blasdell
Poster Art Tee Shirt University
Boulevard Mall, Amherst Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga
About Celebrate Buffalo
Celebrate Buffalo Inc. headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y. and founded in 2005 by Adam Wilson and Joseph Garlipp. The idea was formed around the desire to illustrate the unique spirit of our Queen City and design merchandise Buffalonians would be proud to wear. Wilson and Garlipp later branched off to become Celebrate Buffalo, Inc. and own the "I Love Buffalo" trademark, which includes the popular "I Love Buffalo Hockey" and "I Love Buffalo Football" merchandise. For additional information about Celebrate Buffalo, visit www.celebratebuffalo.com.
About Adoption STAR
Many people today are lost and confused when it comes to adoption planning. Now there is an agency to offer them guidance. Adoption S.T.A.R. (Support, Training, Advocacy & Resources), a Non-Profit (501c3) New York State Authorized, Florida and Ohio Licensed, Adoption Agency, is a compassionate and unique organization. Adoption S.T.A.R. allows prospective adoptive parents and expectant parents to explore all the adoption options and to receive the appropriate information and education necessary to access those options. The agency has a passion for identifying homes for infants who are at risk for entering the foster care system. Adoption S.T.A.R. is an agency dedicated to maintaining connections between adoptive families and birth families and offers education and support with an adoption plan. For additional information about Adoption STAR, visit www.adoptionstar.com.
Editor’s Note: Interviews are available by contacting Marissa Wilson at (716) 523-6817, or Adam Wilson at (716) 984-7065.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Haiti Update
Thank you for your concern for the people of Haiti and the children in need of forever families. Please know that when countries experience natural disasters such as this, their international adoption programs need to halted due to the fact that the tragedy has so many affects, for example it causes governmental organizations to not be working, papers lost, as well as countless people missing or who have died. The loss is so catastrophic it is not imaginable.
We have received many calls and emails since the earthquake requesting information on adopting a child in Haiti and at this time it is not possible to make such plans so we ask again for you to send your prayers and financial support to those providing efforts within Haiti. Since communication to Haiti is difficult right now, we are relying on updates received via social media sites and they are helping us keep in contact with those we know in Haiti. We will let you know if there is anything specific that is being planned to help support the children in Haitian orphanages.
We have received many calls and emails since the earthquake requesting information on adopting a child in Haiti and at this time it is not possible to make such plans so we ask again for you to send your prayers and financial support to those providing efforts within Haiti. Since communication to Haiti is difficult right now, we are relying on updates received via social media sites and they are helping us keep in contact with those we know in Haiti. We will let you know if there is anything specific that is being planned to help support the children in Haitian orphanages.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Haiti
Haiti News Update: Late Tuesday afternoon (1/12/10), a massive 7.0 earthquake struck just outside of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. We have learned that the children in the Chrece (orphanage) that Adoption S.T.A.R. works with and the staff are safe.... Frightened, but safe. We will remain hopeful and continue to advocate that the children already matched with Adoption S.T.A.R. families will be able to travel to their new homes in the near future. We ask that you send your prayers and your financial support to the many efforts being made to assist the people of Haiti.
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