At CPO, we call birth mom’s Superheroes. I know there are people out there that don’t understand this, but they really are. Don’t take our word from it, read Liona’s story. Liona wrote this back in 2015 when she was only 9 years old and she tells her story.
I was 3 1/2 years old, and it was a beautiful day in Hawaii. The sun was shining in my eyes. My mom seemed a bit worried, but I wasn’t. I had a peace in my heart that I can’t explain. I knew I was going to meet my new Mommy and Grammy when they got off the plane in Hawaii. I was sad to leave my birth mom and the only family I had known, but I was certain that where I was going was going to be a good place. When I saw Natalie, my new mommy, asked her if she was going to be my mom and she said yes. It felt like the happiest moment in my life. I kissed my birth mom goodbye and told her not to cry because I would see her again soon. I snuggled close to my new mommy that night in the hotel, and she promised never to leave me and to keep me safe.
Then the plane took off, and I held my new Mommy and Grammy’s hands and prayed because they were crying. I prayed that this would be a good family and that we would always be happy. I also prayed for Miss Shawna too that God would help her not to be sad. When we got off the plane, I was a little nervous. My mommy held my hands even though I had trash in my hair. “How could they even love me or want me,” I thought. Then we walked over to a big group of people, and it was my new family! My brother Zach, my sister Kennedy, and best of all, my DAD!
You may ask why that would be my favorite part. The answer is because my birth father left me and Miss Shawna because he didn’t want to have me for some reason.
We went and got my suitcase that my mommy had brought my special things in. Then we went to the car. I was nervous because I hadn’t been in a car very often because Miss Shawna and I had to walk everywhere we went, even to get food from the shelter. Then the car stopped at a big house. It was magical. I had never even had my own bed before. I kept sneaking food from the pantry and hiding it because I was afraid that we would run out of food. Sometimes, it would be days before Miss Shawna could get us food so I was afraid it could happen again.
Now that I am 9, I know that Miss Shawna made an adoption plan for me because she loves me very much. I can’t imagine what a hard decision that was for her. She gave me the best of both worlds. I have a family that can take care of me and provides the life she wanted me to have, and I still get to know her. What Shawna did for me was like a superhero because she was unselfish and brave. She made a very loving decision for me because she believed I was worth so much. I would never be mad at Miss Shawna. I’m very proud of her and thankful she gave me an opportunity.