‘Families don’t have to match’ – Black couple share their journey to adopting three white children

Sadie and Jarvis Sampson tried everything for years to get pregnant, and eventually they accepted that they would only ever be aunt and uncle. Then, one day, they received a text that completely turned their world upside down.

Since getting married in January 2018, the pair has been trying to get pregnant, so when that didn’t work out naturally, they tried everything else.

The Houston mother told Love What Matters, “Ovulation tests, prenatal vitamins, cycle tracking apps, fertility monitors.”

“We didn’t even try our luck at following the unsolicited counsel of strangers, friends, and family. We tried, prayed, and waited for fourteen months. Month after Month. pregnancy test negative following negative test. It appeared like we would require help getting pregnant. We even went so far as to discuss it with medical professionals.

The couple seemed to get little assistance from the doctors. Sadie was advised by everyone that she would get pregnant if she reduced weight. Since she had no other options, she underwent gastric surgery and shed 28 pounds.

“She informed me that since she was unable to give me the fertility medication, she would refer me to a fertility specialist if I wasn’t pregnant within six months,” Sadie recalled. I was ecstatic to hear that. We finally received a response other than “no”! We were ecstatic to hear “not right now.”

Unfortunately, though, the couple felt as though they had begun over after Sadie lost the weight and they were unable to conceive.

Connecting the Dots – Adoption Puzzle Fundraising EventAs everyone is aware, we received a call regarding our little two weeks ago.

Published on Friday, August 30, 2019 by Sadie Sampson

Sadie said, “I had always felt like I was meant to be a mother.” “I was still not pregnant even though my surgeon had spent a long time to warn me about how fertile I would be following surgery. Thus, we gave up. We came to the realization that our only destiny was to be our nieces’ aunts and uncles and our goddaughters’ godparents.

The couple had just come to the painful conclusion that they would not be able to conceive when Sadie’s friend texted her to ask if they would be willing to foster a child that a couple she knew was thinking about for themselves.

At first, the couple was apprehensive since they had been instructed by a caseworker to look after the child while the mother sought therapy. The couple was concerned that they would grow overly devoted to the child. But soon after, the narrative was altered.

The caseworker stated, “The birth mother decided she would prefer you guys adopt the child instead.”

“Holy crap!!” was the first thing Sadie uttered out loud when she learned she was expecting a child.

“Overnight, we went from not having any kids to possibly fostering one to, ‘You guys are parents!’” Still in shock, I listened to the caseworker as she spoke. After hanging up, I dialed my spouse! “Baby!” They desire that we adopt the child! They want us to have kids,” I cried out. Hold on! Really? He exclaimed, “I assumed they just wanted us to foster him.” “Nope!” “They want us to be his parents,” I remarked.

Over the weekend, the couple not only processed the surprising news but also braced themselves in case the mother had second thoughts.

On Monday, the mother not only expressed her desire for them to adopt the child, but also stated that she was prepared to sign the adoption papers independently.

At 33 weeks, their son had been born—seven weeks ahead of schedule. His weight was 4 lbs. 5 oz. Sadie writes, “He fit in one of my husband’s hands.”

Sadie said, “He was so small, swaddled in a white blanket with stripes of pink and blue.” He was early, therefore he couldn’t eat on his own, thus an NG tube was coming out of his nose. But my goodness, was he adorable!

The couple was urged to create a registry after they announced their announcement on social media. In just three days, 55 of the 72 goods they had advertised had been purchased.

Following the adoption of Ezra Lee, which was completed in October 2020, the couple had the cutest family portraits shot, sporting t-shirts that said, “Families don’t have to match.”

Through embryo donation, Sadie and Jarvis became parents to twin twins, Destinee and Journey, in 2021. The black couple, adhering to their family credo, “Families don’t have to match,” gave birth to three white children: two girls and one boy.

There is just one reaction for anyone who judges this lovely family: love is the strongest foundation there is.

My Future MIL Stormed Into the Church on Our Wedding Day, Waving a Letter and Objecting to Our Marriage

On what should have been the happiest day of Avril’s life, her future mother-in-law stormed into the church mid-ceremony, clutching a letter and DEMANDING THE WEDDING STOP. What followed wasn’t just a bombshell — it was a WHIRLWIND OF REVELATIONS Avril never saw coming.

Weddings are supposed to be joyful chaos, but mine was headed straight for uncharted territory. Allison, my future mother-in-law, had been nothing but a dream during the wedding preparations. She’d offered me her vintage wedding dress, helped me tailor it, and had a hand in the catering and decorations. I never doubted her care or acceptance of me… not even for a second.

A bride and groom | Source: Pexels

A bride and groom | Source: Pexels

“You look absolutely breathtaking,” she had whispered just hours before the wedding, helping me into her restored vintage gown. “Like this dress was made for you.”

“I can’t thank you enough, Allison,” I’d replied, fighting back tears. “For everything. For making me feel like family already.”

Her eyes had welled up then, and I thought everything would be perfect… until Allison suddenly disappeared during the ceremony. She stormed back into the church, shouting, “STOP IT!” while waving a letter in the air. I felt like the ground had been yanked from under me.

A frantic older woman in a church | Source: Midjourney

A frantic older woman in a church | Source: Midjourney

The murmurs in the room were deafening as Allison strode toward me, her face blotchy from crying. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she grabbed my hands.

“I’m so sorry,” she choked out, trembling. “I doubted it, but now it’s confirmed.”

I glanced at Sam, my groom, who stood beside me, his face mirroring my confusion. “What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Mom, please,” Sam whispered urgently, his hand tightening around mine. “Whatever this is, can’t it wait?”

“No,” Allison sobbed, her hands shaking. “No, it can’t wait. Not another minute. Not another second.”

A shocked bride | Source: Midjourney

A shocked bride | Source: Midjourney

She turned to the crowd, her voice breaking as she apologized. “I’m so sorry, but I need to explain something important to the bride and groom in private. Sam and Avril, please come outside with me.”

“Avril,” my adoptive father called from the front row, half-rising from his seat. “Do you want me to —”

“It’s okay, Dad,” I managed, though my voice quivered. “We’ll handle this.”

The tension in the room was unbearable. Sam and I exchanged a glance before following her out of the church. My legs felt like lead, and my heart raced as we stepped into the winter sunlight.

The cold air bit at my skin as Allison turned to face us, clutching the letter like a lifeline. “I don’t even know how to say this,” she began, her words stumbling over each other.

A sad older lady holding a letter | Source: Midjourney

A sad older lady holding a letter | Source: Midjourney

“Just tell us,” Sam said. “What’s going on, Mom? Why did you stop the wedding?”

“Sam, please,” I whispered, touching his arm. “She’s clearly upset. Let her explain.”

“A few months after Sam introduced you to me,” Allison began, looking at me, her eyes glistening with tears, “I noticed a birthmark behind your ear. It’s identical to mine.”

Her words didn’t make sense at first. I touched the small birthmark behind my ear instinctively.

“I thought it was just a coincidence,” she continued. “But a few days before the wedding, during dinner, I noticed the birthmark behind your ear again. It was so identical to mine, and I couldn’t shake the feeling. That’s when I made the decision.”

“The decision to do what?” I asked, the chill in my chest growing.

A shocked bride getting emotional | Source: Midjourney

A shocked bride getting emotional | Source: Midjourney

She wiped her tears and looked me directly in the eyes. “That evening, I saw you brushing your hair and putting the brush in your bag. Later, I took a strand of hair from it and sent it for a DNA test. I wasn’t sure if the results would arrive in time, but they came this morning.”

“You did what?” Sam exploded, stepping forward. “Mom, how could you? That’s a complete invasion of —”

“Please,” Allison begged, reaching for his hand. “Please just let me finish.”

My stomach flipped. “A DNA test? Why would you do that? And what are you trying to say?”

Cropped shot of a woman removing hair from a brush | Source: Pexels

Cropped shot of a woman removing hair from a brush | Source: Pexels

Allison took a deep breath. “When I was 15, I had a baby with a boy I loved in high school… a little girl. Your father ran away the moment I told him I was pregnant. I was young, and my parents forced me to give her up for adoption. I was devastated, but I had no choice. I never stopped thinking about her, but I signed the papers, agreeing I’d never contact her or find out what happened to her. I’ve spent years trying to find my daughter, but I never could… until now.”

My knees buckled. Sam grabbed my arm to steady me, but my mind was reeling.

An anxious bride | Source: Midjourney

An anxious bride | Source: Midjourney

“You’re my daughter, Avril,” Allison whispered. “You’re the baby I gave up.”

The world tilted. “What?” I gasped. “I’m… YOUR DAUGHTER??”

“The DNA results confirmed it,” Allison said, her voice laced with emotion. “You’re my biological daughter.”

Sam and I stared at each other, and we were horrified.

“Oh God,” I choked out, my hand flying to my mouth. “Oh God, no, no, no… this can’t be.”

“But if you’re my mother,” I stammered, “then that would make Sam my —”

“No!” Allison interrupted, shaking her head. “No, you’re not siblings. Let me explain.”

An emotional older woman standing outside a church | Source: Midjourney

An emotional older woman standing outside a church | Source: Midjourney

“Not siblings?” Sam’s voice cracked. “Mom, what are you saying? This doesn’t make any sense.”

She took a step closer, her hands shaking as she clutched the letter. “When I was 21, I got married. My late husband and I struggled with infertility, so we adopted a little boy. Sam was seven years old when we brought him home. He’s my son in every way that matters, but you and he aren’t related by blood, Avril.”

A couple with a little boy | Source: Pexels

A couple with a little boy | Source: Pexels

Relief washed over me, but it was immediately drowned out by disbelief. Sam was silent beside me, his face pale and eyes brimming with tears.

“I remember that day,” he whispered. “The day you brought me home. You told me I was your miracle.”

“You were,” Allison sobbed, reaching for him. “You are. Both of you are my miracles.”

An older lady looking at someone | Source: Midjourney

An older lady looking at someone | Source: Midjourney

“I didn’t want to ruin your wedding, Avril. But I had to tell you. You deserved to know the truth before marrying Sam. And now…” Her voice broke, and she covered her face. “Now I don’t just have a daughter-in-law. I have a daughter.”

The rest of the day felt like a blur. We went back into the church and finished the ceremony, but the mood had shifted. I caught glimpses of Allison sitting in the front row, her eyes red from crying.

At the reception, I couldn’t focus on the celebration. My brain was stuck in a loop, trying to make sense of everything. My mother-in-law was my biological mother. My husband wasn’t my brother, but he was still my mother’s son in a way.

An emotional bride at her wedding reception | Source: Midjourney

An emotional bride at her wedding reception | Source: Midjourney

“I feel like I’m dreaming,” I whispered to my adoptive father as we shared our dance. “Dad, how is this real?”

He pulled me closer, his voice gruff with emotion. “You’re still my little girl. Nothing changes that. But maybe now you have room in your heart for two mothers?”

As Sam and I danced, he leaned in close. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “How can any of this be okay?”

“We’ll figure this out,” he said softly, squeezing my hand. “You didn’t just marry me today — you found a piece of your family, too.”

“But what if it changes everything?” I whispered against his shoulder. “What if it changes us?”

A bride and groom holding hands | Source: Unsplash

A bride and groom holding hands | Source: Unsplash

“Look at me,” he said, tilting my chin up. “Nothing could change how I feel about you. Nothing.”

I looked over at Allison, sitting at her table, watching us with hope and uncertainty. For the first time, I felt something shift in me.

The days after the wedding were filled with long conversations. Allison told me everything — about the guilt she’d carried for years, the desperate searches, and the sleepless nights wondering if her daughter was happy and safe.

“I used to write you letters,” she confessed one evening, pulling out a worn shoebox. “Every birthday and every Christmas. I never knew where to send them, but I couldn’t stop writing them.”

A sad older woman feeling nostalgic as she holds a letter | Source: Midjourney

A sad older woman feeling nostalgic as she holds a letter | Source: Midjourney

“Sometimes,” she whispered, “I would see a young woman on the street with long dark hair like yours, and my heart would stop. I’d wonder, ‘Could that be her?’ But I never had the courage to approach anyone.”

“I don’t know how to feel,” I admitted. “This is… a lot.”

“I understand,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “Take all the time you need. I’m just so grateful you’re in my life now.”

And strangely, I was also grateful.

A sad older woman sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney

A sad older woman sitting on the couch | Source: Midjourney

A few weeks later, Allison came over for dinner. As we sat around the table, laughing and sharing stories, I realized something: family isn’t always about how you get there. Sometimes, it’s about what you do once you arrive.

“Do you remember,” Sam asked, grinning at his mother, “that time you caught me trying to mail myself to Disney World?”

“In a cardboard box!” Allison laughed, wiping tears from her eyes. “You’d packed a sandwich and everything!”

“Thank you for giving me my son back,” she said as we cleared the dishes.

“And thank you for giving me the mother I never knew I had,” I replied.

An emotional woman with a sweet smile | Source: Midjourney

An emotional woman with a sweet smile | Source: Midjourney

“I have something for you,” she said suddenly, pulling an envelope from her purse. “It’s the first letter I ever wrote to you. I wrote it the day they took you away.”

My hands trembled as I took it. “I don’t know if I’m ready to read it yet.”

“That’s okay,” she smiled, squeezing my hand. “We have time now. All the time in the world.”

Sam walked into the room, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Looks like I married into one complicated, beautiful family,” he said with a grin.

“The best kind,” I replied, looking between my husband and the woman who was both my mother-in-law and my mother.

And for the first time, I realized he was right. Complicated, yes… but beautiful all the same.

A romantic couple | Source: Unsplash

A romantic couple | Source: Unsplash

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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