Choosing Adoption

Victoria Slappy never planned to become an expert on all three sides of the pregnancy decision, but life gave her the full range. An abortion at sixteen that still haunts her. A first adoption that dissolved into silence after six months. And a second adoption that built a family bond she never expected. On this episode of Choosing Adoption, she holds nothing back. Two Adoptions, Two Realities Vic...

Eight children. Three lost to foster care. Two abused in state placements. And one mother who decided the system would never choose for her again. In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, birth parents Malena and Chuck share how they turned to open adoption to protect their younger children and keep siblings together. When the System Took the Choice Away Malena did everything CPS...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, birth parents Kaylee and Elijah sit alongside adoptive parents Paul and Cassie with baby Seth to share their adoption story together. This rare conversation reveals what happens when both families commit to building an open adoption relationship from day one. Finding the Right Family Kaylee and Elijah were extremely selective about who wou...

Alexandra and Michael Hatherley were living in the woods in Florida when Alexandra discovered she was pregnant with Owen. In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, they share how they found Heart To Heart Adoptions and made the choice to place their son for adoption while relocating from Florida to Utah for a fresh start. When Adoption Creates Opportunity Their stor...

Jonessa Price, a 28-year-old Native American birth mother from Arizona, shares her adoption journey and the challenges she faced navigating the Indian Child Welfare Act while seeking the right path for her son. In this episode of Choosing Adoption, with host Donna Pope, Jonessa discusses finding Heart To Heart Adoptions through what she describes as a sign, and how their support made the hardest d...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption, Emily shares her birth mother journey that began when she discovered her pregnancy at 16. Her mother's immediate response set the tone for everything that followed: wrapping her arms around Emily and saying they'd get through it together. Her adoption counselor made clear to everyone that this was Emily's decision alone, creating space for her to choose withou...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, birth mother Kaylee Anglesey challenges the misconception that birth mothers don't care enough about their children. At 19, she placed her daughter because she loved her so much that giving her the life she deserved mattered more than keeping her close. This perspective reveals adoption as an act of profound love rather than abandonment. T...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with McKenzie, a 24-year-old mother of three who traveled from Ohio to Utah for an adoption placement. When her blood pressure spiked at 32 weeks, she experienced seizures and faced an emergency C-section, delivering baby Grace prematurely and beginning an unexpected NICU journey. Emergency Delivery Tests Adoption Plans McKenzie navigate...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope talks with Kenia about her personal journey of placing her child for adoption. Kenia shares her struggle to parent during the first months with little help from the birth father or family. When promises of support fell through, she felt alone and overwhelmed. She explains how financial help was not enough without emotional and physical presence...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Daliya Brown about her three adoption experiences and her strong advocacy for birth mother autonomy. Daliya shares her journey traveling from Pennsylvania to Utah for placement, comparing her experiences with both agency support and private adoption arrangements. Different Approaches Daliya discusses the stark differences between wo...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Angel, who traveled from Hawaii to Utah for adoption placement, and Laraine, her social worker. Angel shares how interstate adoption support provided her with the resources and family connection she needed during a complicated situation involving marriage difficulties and an unsupportive biological father. Building Relationships Ang...

In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope welcomes Lynea Krukiewicz, a birth mother advocate with 35 years of experience since placement, along with Laraine Moon. Together, they challenge misconceptions about birth mothers and address controversial topics around interstate adoption and coercion allegations. Community Support Lynea and Laraine advocacy work with the Utah Adoption Counci...

In this premiere episode of Choosing Adoption, discover the extraordinary 26-year journey between Donna Pope and Monica, the birth mother who placed her son Josh for adoption and forever changed both their lives. The Decision Monica shares her raw truth about choosing adoption while struggling with addiction and homelessness, unable to care for her four-year-old son. With no resources and pregnant...

Choosing Adoption creates community for expectant and birth parents navigating one of life's most personal decisions. Host Donna Pope, Executive Director of Heart To Heart Adoptions with over 25 years of experience, provides space where your story matters and your voice is valued. Each episode features birth parents who share their journeys of challenges, growth, and healing after placement. If yo...