Dear Expectant Parent(s),

We as a family are truly blessed to be writing you this letter. You and I have very different circumstances but our circumstances are very much the same. You have an unplanned pregnancy, yet you love the child you will give birth to. I cannot have a second child, but would love for our family to grow. After the birth of our daughter Leah, four years ago, I was misdiagnosed with Endometriosis. Endometriosis has destroyed my right fallopian tube and caused me to loose my left tube. Through the course of two surgeries the only way for us to get pregnant again is to try IVF. My husband and I discussed IVF but decided against it because when I was pregnant with Leah I became very sick with a syndrome called HELLP. It caused my platelets to drop and Leah was born 6 weeks early. Leah spent 5 weeks in the NICU. Watching the pain on my husband's face through the birth of Leah and two surgeries from Endometriosis, I could not put him through any more worry and upset. In the course of four years, I was so busy trying to cure my body and find a way to get pregnant we failed to see that God had a bigger plan for our family. Through prayer, support from friends and family and a true desire to have a second child we want to adopt a baby into our home whom we can love and cherish.

Brian and I have been with each other for 15 years. We met 15 years ago at Wilson High School on a blind date for the Winter formal. I had asked my friend Lindy if she knew of anyone and she said she knew a boy in her art class that might be interested. After a phone call, Brian and I met at a Taco Bell. We continued to date for five years and then decided to get married in 2004. We graduated college at different times. I finished my BA and credential in Art Education in 2006 and Brian graduated with an Electrical Certificate and Journeyman's License in 2009. I currently am a high school art teacher and Brian works as a Locomotive Diesel Electrician for the Union Pacific Railroad.

After adopting, we will continue to work fulltime and our child will be at our home with their grandmothers two days a week and at a home daycare three days a week. Our families live locally so it has been a blessing to have Leah bond with her grandmothers and has given her a chance to meet other children at either a home daycare or her current preschool. Leah has been attending a private, Christian, preschool for two years and has blossomed socially and academically. She has been attending gymnastics at school and has taken ballet. She will attend a neighborhood kindergarten starting in the fall. It is a few blocks away from our house which is very familiar to her. She spends a lot of time at our local library and park.

Brian and I have owned our home for 8 years and have been very happy raising Leah in our neighborhood. One of the things that attracted us to our neighborhood were the trees. We have spent time growing lots of plants and vegetables in our backyard. Leah is quiet the gardener. It is a place to relax and watch Leah grow up. When Brian and I are not working, we enjoy taking Leah to museums, doing art projects, reading stories, going for walks in the Nature Center, going on play dates, going to Disneyland, going to the San Diego Zoo and to spend time with our family. Brian and I respect and cherish our families. Monthly we visit both sets of Leah's grandparents' houses. Depending on your comfort level, we would love to have an open relationship with you.

We would love to meet with you if that is what you desire. We are open to any form of communication you are comfortable with. If you choose us as parents we want to send you pictures and updates about the child. We would also like a more open relationship with you after the child is born. We pray God's blessing on you and know this is a very difficult and uncertain time. Please know that we care deeply for you and your child.

We are represented by Nightlight Christian Adoptions. If you want more information about us or would like to meet us, please contact Nightlight at 888-933-2287

Sincerely,

Erica and Brian Sands