Letters From Adoptive Parents
Jean Herbst
We received a call on a Friday saying we would be parents next week. WOW! What a weekend of hurry.
It was 1962 and we were adopting our first baby from St. Vincent's, a baby boy. Upon our arrival, a nun with a big white winged hat took us to the nursery.
We saw the babies in white t-shirts and diapers lying in their cribs. We also saw a staff/volunteer rocking babies. There was one baby that stood out - a four week-old boy in a blue gingham check outfit that said on the front of the outfit, "Thank heaven for little boys." That one was our son waiting for us. Sister, with her huge peaked head veil, then took us to the Chapel. We waited for the nurse to get him ready and bring him down. There in front of the communion rail, Sister placed our son in my arms - the very first time I touched him! Speak about being nervous, scared, but also awe struck of the occasion. This was nearly 36 years ago. Three years later in 1965, we returned for a repeat performance, only this time a little six week-old girl was dressed in pink, while all the other babies had on the white shirt and diaper uniform. One thing was different though. The Sister's headdress was a much smaller veil.
The Sister said how good it was to feel the rain and sun on her face. But again, new mom and dad did not get to touch the baby daughter until we were again in the chapel. What a momentous time!
My little girl is a teacher now at the local Catholic School with a family of her own. So, I guess I did all right and the Lord blessed me with a child of my own, another daughter. I have three children.
Cecilia Jawarski
Our daughter joined our family in 1969 at fifteen month's old. She had been at St. Vincent's since birth and because of love, care and nurturing she received, she had a great start. She is now 28 years old. She was a two time all American volleyball player in college (Penn State) and Olympic candidate. She went on to earn a Masters degree in counseling. She is now married with a darling son. She and her husband live in Atlanta, Georgia. Adopting her was so fulfilling for us. We went on to adopt eight more children, although our daughter was the only one who stayed at St. Vincent's. We are most grateful!
Catherine McAndrews
Our only problem was THE WAITING - eighteen months for our first little girl and sixteen months for our second little girl. Now that they are both married and with little girls of their own (2 each). We realize that they were well worth waiting for! I feel that there is a great need for services that were provided at St. Vincent's for us and all the other couples who were in our Adoptive Parents Northside Group.
Carol McAndrews
My name is Carol McAndrews and I was born on July 27, 1964. Because my birth mother's gift of life, I was adopted by the two greatest people in the world, my parents, James & Catherine McAndrews. We have resided on the north side of Chicago for 33 years and I am now the proud mother of two beautiful daughters. They are 9 and 10 years old.
Adoptive Parents
