Leila’s Story

Oct 2009 Issue

By Shellee Nihipali
My husband Kaleo and I were married in the Las Vegas temple in 1999 and assumed that children would follow soon after that. They didn’t. We prayed for our family to grow, we searched for answers, and we went through countless tests and doctors’ visits. At times, we would get overwhelmed and feel pretty hopeless. But no matter how hard things got, we could always find peace at the temple. It continues to be a place where we can forget our cares, even if just for awhile, and focus on things more eternal.

Not too long after we started all of the doctor’s appointments, I started to get interested in adoption. But Kaleo wasn’t ready yet. He was determined to have a child of “our own.” So we kept trying. Through it all, our family supported our decisions and fasted and prayed along with us. Finally, after 8 years of marriage, 1 ½ rounds of in vitro, and endless prayers, we both agreed it was time to seriously look at adoption as the way to start our family. Everything up to this point had been so stressful and hard but once we decided on adoption there was a huge amount of peace and relief; even a bit of excitement. I am sure it was an answer to our prayers.

We met with an agency and completed our paperwork in July 2008. By September, Leila’s birthparents had chosen our profile. We were so grateful and felt overwhelmed that they were considering us as parents for their baby girl. Adoption is such a miracle for all involved and for us, it was extremely humbling.
In January, Leila’s birth mom was hospitalized with high blood pressure. They asked us to make the trip to Alaska to meet them. We were thrilled! And we made arrangements to go the following week. Kaleo and I were so nervous as we walked through the halls of the hospital. What would we say? What would they think of us?
And constantly in the back of our minds was the fear that we would say or do something that would change their minds. We walked in the room and saw two strangers, two complete strangers who wanted us to raise their baby girl. It almost took my breath away. But as we exchanged hugs and small talk, things quickly got more comfortable. We found common ground, we got to know each other, and we answered each other’s questions. We heard the baby’s heart beat over the monitor and it was the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.

It still amazes me that complete strangers can come together for the love of a child.
Any awkwardness and anxiety between the four of us was dissipated by our common love for this baby. I have no doubt that adoption is part of our Heavenly Father’s plan. In His infinite wisdom, He created a plan that would allow us to raise a family even though we can’t bear children. At the same time, He made it possible for Leila to have an eternal family and the blessings that come with it.

In January, our baby arrived 5 weeks early and was in the hospital on feeding tubes for four weeks. We did placement in February, exactly one month after her birth. It was emotional and difficult because we felt so attached to her birth family and we knew they were hurting. We agreed to an open adoption with Leila’s birth family, which means we exchange emails, calls, pictures and even visits. We see it as a blessing that Leila has so many people in her life that love her. And we are grateful that she will know her whole story.

This month we took Leila to the temple to be sealed to us forever. For adoptive couples, this is a huge milestone. It marks the end of what is usually a 6 month waiting period where the child is in your home and your family but not legally yours.
And at the same time it is a beginning; the beginning of an eternal family. To say we were excited would be an understatement. It was a little surreal as the three of us walked through the doors of the temple.

We were separated from Leila for a short time while we did paperwork and the temple workers got her dressed for the sealing. When they brought her back to us in her little white dress we could hardly hold back the tears. The Spirit was strong as the sealer spoke to us about our Savior and eternal families. Kaleo and I could hardly look at Leila because our emotions were so tender. She holds such a special place in our hearts. There is no greater joy than knowing that your child will be with you forever. It was a beautiful and important day for our family. I’m so grateful for the temple and the sealing ordinance that makes it possible for us to be together forever.