Evelyn Smith
Sometimes we do not have to be related by blood to become family.
Family ties can be formed under the right conditions with immense love, dedication, and commitment to one another.
This was the case between Mandi and Tyler Palmer, both of whom were finally able to officially call seventeen-month-old Hunter their son a few days ago.
Mandi Palmer son adopted
Credit: Ann-Marie Finn / Finn Photography
Mandi and Tyler have always dreamed of having kids and starting a family of their own ever since they got married.
However, health complications made having their own biological child a near impossibility.
Thirty-three-year-old Mandi was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and due to complications arising, she was not able to conceive.
The couple decided to go the adoption route, meeting and falling in love with Hunter when he was just eight days old.
Speaking to People, Mandi who resides in Perrysburg, Ohio said,
‘Once we got licensed as foster-to-adopt parents, that week, we got the phone call for Hunter. He was 8 days old.
We went and picked him up at Children’s Services. We brought him home and we went through the roller coaster ride of foster care for that entire year’.
It wasn’t easy however as the little family they had dreamed off was in danger of not materializing.
The couple faced quite a few setbacks including the stark possibility that Hunter might be adopted by another family.
It would take quite a long time before they could finally adopt Hunter officially.
Mandi Palmer son adopted
Credit: Ann-Marie Finn / Finn Photography
Finally, they learned last December that they would finally be able to call Hunter their own without going against the law.
So, on Dec. 18, the family-to-be dressed their best and headed to a local courthouse, where they signed the official paperwork to adopt the seventeen-month-old.
Overcome with emotion, Mandi said to People,
‘It was very emotional, in a good way. We had all of our family and friends there. At the end of the court process, the judge announced [Hunter’s] new legal name. And they read the adoption decree and that’s when Hunter looked at my husband and he said, ‘Dad!’
An adorable moment that brought tears to the eyes of Mandi and Tyler.
Mandi Palmer son adopted
Credit: Ann-Marie Finn / Finn Photography
‘We just started clapping and everybody just started crying. It was so emotional. It’s definitely rewarding. It’s nice to look in his eyes now and not have to worry that he’s ever gonna have to leave us again’.
Although there is a happy ending to this story, the couple needed divine intervention before they actually decided to adopt.
Describing when they first started to toy with the idea, she said,
‘That’s when we started looking into other options and we were talking about adoption and we kept hearing our county’s commercial for the need of foster parents in our area’
‘We were scared. We kind of danced around the idea for a little bit. Then we prayed on it, and we just felt like God pushed us to do it’
Mandi Palmer son adopted
Credit: Ann-Marie Finn / Finn Photography
With the love they felt for young Hunter when they first met him and the setbacks along the way, Mandi speaks for the whole family when she says they are happy the family is complete.
‘On adoption day, it’s almost like a ton of bricks just came off our chest. We now know that he’s never leaving us. He’ll always be safe and loved with us. So that in itself is rewarding.”
‘Life just happens. We’ve loved him since we’ve gotten him. We’ve cared for him as if he was gonna be with us forever because every child deserves that’.
Congratulations Mandi and Tyler!
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