Adoptions are usually not straightforward selections to make and are naturally emotional for the adoptive mother and father and the kid concerned. The celebrities of HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous, nevertheless, shared the significantly agonizing three-year technique of bringing their daughter dwelling.
Dave and Jenny Mars, stars of Fixer to Fabulous, struggled to start out a household of their very own however at all times knew that they wished to undertake. Jenny defined that their need to undertake began after listening to concerning the challenges orphans face all through the world.
She mentioned, “It felt a bit of overwhelming once we began to be taught concerning the want and all the youngsters and not using a household, however you may solely do what you are able to do. We thought, ‘We’ll give attention to one and see.’”
The journey had a twist, nevertheless, when Jenny unexpectedly acquired pregnant with twins. She had a high-risk being pregnant that resulted in untimely labor, and he or she needed to be airlifted from their dwelling in Bentonville, Arkansas to a hospital in Little Rock.
She mentioned, “We got each worst-case situation for when the boys had been born. Fortunately, Nathan and Ben, now 12, arrived “completely wholesome and superior.”
They put the plan to undertake on maintain since Jenny and her sons spent the primary month of their life within the hospital. She recalled, “That first yr with twins was actually exhausting.”
However 18 months later, they determined to proceed with the adoption with the hopes of rising their household.
On November 12, 2012, the Fixer to Fabulous mainstays got here throughout the adoption profile on-line of a lady from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa.
They instantly knew that they wished to undertake her and began the method. The paperwork was settled by August 2013 and the woman was lastly their authorized baby.
Dave and Jenny had been able to welcome child Sylvie dwelling inside the subsequent month however tragically, the
Congolese authorities shut down.
Exit letters had been suspended and with out them, no adopted kids might go away the nation. The Fixer to Fabulous stars had been understandably devasted.
Jenny shared, “Her adoption had been finalized. She had her U.S. passport. After which the nation shut down adopted children leaving, so she couldn’t get her exit allow.”
With no finish to the disaster in sight, the Fixer to Fabulous stars had been contacting anybody they thought might assist. They’d individuals writing letters they usually met with numerous congressmen and senators.
Throughout this tough ready interval, Jenny grew to become pregnant with their now 8-year-old daughter Charlotte. She recalled, “I wasn’t in a position to actually rejoice within the wonderful information as a result of we had been so overwhelmed with sorrow that we couldn’t get our daughter dwelling.” This too, was one other high-risk being pregnant for Jenny.
Dave took the lead in attempting to deliver their daughter dwelling and made 5 journeys to the Congo, however sadly returned alone every time.
He mentioned, “It was heart-wrenching. There was nothing we might do. I particularly went over to Congo, waited exterior our U.S. embassy to attempt to get in and plead my case with the U.S. ambassador.”
Eight weeks after giving delivery to Charlotte, Sylvie was lastly in a position to journey to the U.S. On July 8, 2014, Sylvie’s foster mom was given permission to fly the woman to America.
Jenny mentioned, “Make no mistake – a battle happened to deliver our daughter dwelling. The exhale that happened when she was again in my arms on US soil was echoed in heaven. The religious battle that I couldn’t see throughout these lengthy days and nights was lastly over.”
Sylvie was given an exception since she was thought-about medically fragile resulting from a respiration irregularity from which she has since recovered.
Dave mentioned, “It was quite a lot of emotion as a result of we actually didn’t suppose that she would ever come dwelling. It’s 100% a miracle.” After 602 days, the Fixer to Fabulous stars lastly welcomed their new daughter dwelling, who joined them at age 2.
Now with a household of seven (they later welcomed their youngest, Luke, 3), Dave and Jenny are centered on displaying their children and the world that they could be a bit of completely different from what most would take into account a standard household, however they ARE a household.
In addition to managing the household and different companies, the Fixer to Fabulous stars additionally co-host one other present known as House City Takeover.
These dwelling makeover stars are usually not solely changing properties, but in addition remodeling the which means of household. As Jenny mentioned, “Adoption is part of our household. It’s part of our story, however they’re all simply our children.”
The household additionally owns a blueberry farm in Bentonville which companions with Assist One Now to assist orphaned kids in Zimbabwe.
The journey might have been an extended one for this household, however Jenny at all times believed that all the things went in accordance with God’s plan.
She mentioned, “He’s solely, at all times good. Typically, we will’t see previous our present sight line however, simply over the horizon, He has good, good issues in retailer. Preserve trusting.”
To be taught extra about their story, watch the video under:
