Sadie and Jarvis Sampson tried for years to have a baby, using every method they could think of. They eventually accepted that they might only ever be an aunt and uncle. Then, one day, they got a text that changed their lives completely.
The couple had been trying to get pregnant since they got married in January 2018, but when it didn’t happen on its own, they tried everything else.
“We used ovulation tests, took prenatal vitamins, tracked cycles with apps, and used fertility monitors,” the Houston mom told Love What Matters.
“We even tried advice from friends, family, and strangers. For 14 months, we tried, prayed, and waited. Month after month, it was always a negative pregnancy test. It seemed like we might need help to conceive, so we even talked to doctors about it.”
Doctors didn’t offer much help to the couple. They mostly told Sadie to lose weight to improve her chances of getting pregnant. With no other advice, she had gastric surgery and lost 28 pounds.
Sadie’s OBGYN was excited about the weight loss and praised her for it.
“She told me that if I wasn’t pregnant within six months, she would refer me to a fertility specialist because she couldn’t prescribe fertility medication herself,” Sadie said. “I was thrilled! We finally got a positive step forward, even if it wasn’t immediate. We were excited about the progress.”
Unfortunately, the couple didn’t get pregnant after Sadie lost the weight, and they felt like they were back where they started.
“I always felt like I was meant to be a mother,” Sadie said. “Even though my surgeon warned me that I’d be very fertile after the surgery, I still wasn’t getting pregnant. So, we gave up and accepted that we might just be aunt and uncle to our nieces and godparents to our goddaughters.”
Just when the couple had decided to stop trying to have a baby, Sadie got a text from a friend asking if they would think about fostering a baby from a couple she knew.
At first, the couple was hesitant because they were told by a caseworker to take care of the baby while the birth mom was getting treatment. They worried they might get too attached. But then, the situation changed.
“The birth mom has decided she wants you to adopt the baby instead,” the caseworker said.
Sadie remembered saying, “‘Holy crap!!’ out loud when she found out she was going to be a mom.
“We went from having no kids to possibly fostering one, to suddenly being told, ‘You’re going to be parents!’ I was still in shock as I listened to the caseworker. I hung up and called my husband, shouting, ‘Babe!! They want us to adopt the baby! We’re going to be parents!’ He said, ‘Wait! REALLY?! I thought they just wanted us to foster him!’ I told him, ‘Nope! They want us to be his mom and dad.’”
The couple spent the weekend trying to take in the shocking news and getting ready, just in case the birth mom changed her mind.
By Monday, they were not only told that the birth mom still wanted them to adopt the baby, but she also wanted to do an independent adoption and was ready to sign the papers that day.
Their baby boy was born at just 33 weeks, which is seven weeks early. He weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz. “He was so tiny, he literally fit in one of my husband’s hands,” Sadie wrote.
“He was wrapped in a white blanket with pink and blue stripes,” Sadie said. “He had a small tube coming out of his nose because he couldn’t eat on his own since he was born early. But he was so cute!!!”
The couple shared their news on social media and were encouraged to create a registry. They listed 72 items, and within just three days, 55 of them were already bought for them.
Ezra Lee’s adoption was finalized in October 2020, and the couple had adorable family photos taken, all wearing t-shirts that said, “Families don’t have to match.”
In 2021, Sadie and Jarvis became parents to twin girls, Journee and Destinee, through embryo donation. True to their family motto, “Families don’t have to match,” the Black couple now has three white children – a boy and two girls.
For anyone who might judge their beautiful family, they have just one response: their family is built on the strongest foundation ever – love.
As a child, she faced relentless teasing and was often labeled “chubby”
Jennifer Aniston’s remarkable success might suggest she had a perfect childhood, but her early life was far from ideal. The 54-year-old actress, daughter of John Aniston, known for his role on Days of Our Lives, faced her share of challenges. Reflecting on her past, Aniston has spoken about her difficult relationship with her late mother, acknowledging the importance of releasing “toxic” anger. She expressed gratitude for her mother’s lessons, stating: “Thank you for showing me what never to be”.
Aniston recalled her mother’s harsh comments about her appearance, which contributed to her insecurities. “She often told me to take better care of myself”, Aniston reflected, noting that her mother’s critical nature stemmed from her own beauty and modeling background.
Born on February 11, 1969, to John and Nancy Dow, Aniston experienced her parents’ divorce at age nine, which deeply affected her mother. Aniston shared that while she was eager to leave their troubled home in New York City, the instability taught her resilience. In a 2020 interview with Sandra Bullock, she revealed how witnessing unkindness between adults motivated her to choose a different path.
Despite her challenges, Aniston faced bullying as a child, feeling singled out for being “chubby”. She acknowledged that she had to work through old wounds from her youth, saying: “I’ve done a lot of personal work to heal”.
Her relationship with her mother was tumultuous, especially after her mom released a tell-all book in 1999, leading to years of estrangement. Aniston was hurt that her privacy was compromised and chose not to invite her mother to her wedding to Brad Pitt. They eventually reconciled, but they hadn’t seen each other for years before Dow’s passing in 2016.
Conversely, Aniston’s bond with her father improved once she pursued acting. He initially worried for her, but they later connected over their shared profession.
Beyond acting, Aniston is one of Hollywood’s highest-paid stars, with numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe. She also runs a haircare line, LolaVie, and founded a production company, Echo Films, responsible for several successful projects.
Following her father’s death in 2022, Aniston shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, honoring his legacy. She found peace with her past, stating: “I forgave my mom. I forgave my father. It’s toxic to hold onto resentment”. Aniston’s journey highlights the importance of confronting one’s history and finding healing through forgiveness.
Her story is a reminder that even those in the spotlight can face significant challenges, and it’s inspiring to see how she has turned her experiences into personal growth. What are your thoughts on her journey?
Leave a Reply