Dear Birthparent,

As you read this letter, know that we are in awe of your courage and love for the child that you will bring into this world. We know this must be an overwhelming and challenging time in your life. Have faith and trust in your self, you will find the right fit for your child. We are grateful that you are taking the time to get to know a little about us and hope that you wish to place in a family that will provide the same unending love that you hope for your child.

Our Story (The very abbreviated version)
We We met in high school in 1993. We developed a friendship that held fast for 4 years and beyond. In 1995 Nick was involved in a serious car accident. It was then that Suzzi felt it was important to visit him in the hospital as he stayed for 4 months. Thru that period, Suzzi visited him as much as possible and our friendship truly blossomed. Our friendship grew stronger with every passing day and into a relationship in 1997. We dated for 6 years before we were married in 2003. Our wedding ceremony was the most beautiful day we have ever experienced. We married in front of 300 family members and friends. Together we chose not to tell our guests where the reception was because we wanted everyone to witness the most important part of our marriage and that is the vow we took with one another. We celebrate the party and the fun in our marriage but honor the vows each day in every way. We knew that children would be an important part of our family. We waited 2 years before trying to start a family. Due to Nick's injury, we were able to meet with doctors right away and begin fertility treatments. After 3 years of unsuccessful fertility treatments we realized that our journey toward building our family was leading us in another direction. We feel that this new journey will offer us opportunities and relationships thru openness. We are accepting of what ever type of relationship is given. Because of the experiences that we have shared in our relationship, we realize that honoring each other and our vows is the first stone in the foundation of our family and adoption is the next.  

This is Nick by Nick
I come from a small immediate family with a large extended family. My mother has seven siblings and my father has three siblings. My parents are still married, but are both previously married. I have a half brother (same father), but no other siblings. My brother is ten years older and moved to Florida when he turned eighteen and joined the Navy. Several years ago, my parents also moved to Florida following my dad’s retirement. Despite having my family in Florida, we talk often and visit several times a year. Suzzi and I have also developed several close relationships with some of our close friend’s family and considered them our “adopted family.”

In October 1995 I sustained a Spinal Cord Injury during a roll over car accident. I spent several months in the hospital and a rehabilitation program. Today I am completely independent and have learned many great life lessons from my injury. I currently work for a small Catastrophic Injury consulting firm as a Licensed Social Worker. I get the opportunity to help newly injured individuals regain the independence in their lives. I have clients all over the Midwest area and spend part of time traveling (driving or flying) to appointments or personal meetings. I also have the luxury of working from home and spend the other half of my work time either at the office or at home. Other than my wife and starting a family, my other passion is wheelchair rugby. I have been playing for twelve years and am the captain of the Chicago team. I have also trained with the USA Rugby program for several years and will be trying out for the 2012 London Paralympic team.

This is Suzzi by Suzzi
I was raised in the south suburbs of Chicago in a family of 4 children (3 boys and me). My dad died when I was 5 and my mom remarried when I was in 5th grade. My step-dad brought 3 grown children to our family and today we are currently a family of 30 and growing. I grew up traveling and being exposed to the world from a very young age. I believe that has helped to shape me to be the kind, open minded, and accepting person that I feel I am. I am very close to my family and talk to them regularly. One of my brothers lives just 6 blocks from us with his family. We see them daily and are grateful that his wife with be our daycare provider. My mom and step-dad live in Florida as well as much of my family. We are able to visit Florida 4-5 times a year.

Nick, through Suzzi’s eyes…
Nick is INCREDIBLE! He is a people person, a gifted athlete, goofy and funny. He is thoughtful, smart, and artistic. He loves children and he is a kid at heart forever! I trust and treasure him more than anything in this world. He has the ability to make something positive out of every situation. He is always making jokes or lovingly teasing someone, be it me, family or friends. Nick is quiet in the room with new people but watch out…in a room of friends and family he is Mr. Personality!

Nick also has a more serious side. He is dedicated to the people that he councils at work and is committed to his job and work ethic…but also knows when to leave work alone and be part of the family.

I love to say that I got the best of both worlds because Nick is a great mix of “typical boy” and “sensitive man”. He loves to play sports. No matter what sport Nick tries he becomes the best at it. In high school he was on varsity gymnastics as a freshman. After his injury he competitively played softball, track and field, and raced wheel chairs. His current passion is wheelchair rugby. Nick has been playing rugby for 12 years and has received countless trophies and prestigious awards for his skills and dedication to the sport. He is the captain of the Chicago Bears rugby team. He aspires to compete in the Para Olympics in the future. Nick loves old cars, fixing them and drooling over them. He also loves all types of music and meat…typical boy stuff.

On the contrary, Nick is also very sensitive and easily sees the other perspective of things. Nick is a great shopper (for clothes…not groceries!), he is a wonderful listener and counselor. Nick enjoys dinners at fancy restaurants, and traveling…sensitive manly stuff.

Nick is my best friend and I can not wait to grow older and make family memories with him!

Suzzi, through Nick's eyes...
Where do I start? I have known Suzzi for 15 years and we have shared so many experiences and developed unforgettable memories together. She is truly my best friend and confidant. She is always the first person I turn to in happy times as well as tough times. She is the person I can share my thoughts and ideas with knowing they will be accepted and not criticized. I wake every morning with a smile on my face because the first thing I get to see is Suzzi. I am comforted every night knowing she is within reach as we fall asleep.

Suzzi is loving, caring, thoughtful, and devoted; she has a gentle soul. She is the type of person that will sacrifice everything to help another. She is focused and dedicated, especially with tasks she has a special interest in. She can be a bit of a perfectionist which makes for a good match with us since I tend to be laid back. She has a great sense of humor and her laugh can be quite infectious.

It is always awesome to see Suzzi interacting with children, whether it be a niece or nephew or one of her kids at school. Suzzi is a natural parent. We come from large families and Suzzi has always been around children of all ages. Her love of children is evident in her career choice and her want to continually learn more about the development and care of children and infants. It always stops me in my tracks to see Suzzi holding or cooing an infant. Her eyes are fixated on that child and she is always looking to make them smile and connect with them. She always seems to know when a child needs to be held or told a kind word. She is imaginative in her explanation of a child’s usual curiosity of everything. She is extremely creative and always designing projects for her kids at school or our niece and nephew that live near by.

I am living my dream, which is to share my life with Suzzi and enjoy the experiences as we create a family together.

Lola
Lola is our 18 month old Boxer. We rescued her when she was 8 months old. We talked for a long time about getting a dog and Lola just "fell into our laps" in August of 2008. She has truly been a joy and blessing in our family. She has become our baby. Lola is a loving, protective, and funny dog. She loves to go on walks, play at the park, and be around children. Lola can smell "people food" like a hungry man and loves to cuddle on the couch. If the feelings that we have for Lola are a fraction of what we will have for our child... then he or she will be one LOVED little person!

Our views on life and parenting with a disability:
We feel extremely fortunate to have a community of friends that parent with the same differences that we will. We also come from large families with many children that has allowed us to be confident in our abilities. It is our plan to parent exactly the same way we would, disability or not. We are active people and plan to continue to be active parents. We will take walks, travel, go on bike rides, have picnics, plant a garden, play catch in the yard and swim at the pool. We are advocates of education and will make it a priority in the life of our children. We will visit museums, go to the library, participate in music and art classes and provide experiences that help develop their own interests. We are spiritual individually, as a couple and will raise our children with that same spirituality. We will attend a local church regularly and encourage our children to be active in Sunday School, youth groups, children's choir and vacation bible school.

Clearly we have a uniqueness in our relationship and family but it is that uniqueness that makes our home interesting. We are dedicated to raising children in a "normal" home with as many experiences and opportunities as possible. It is our hope that you see our desire to parent and our desire to raise a child in a home of acceptance, love, and dedication to family.

For more information please contact Sunny Ridge Family Center.

With gratitude,
Suzzi and Nick

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