We have always talked about adoption, having grown up in a community where many of those we went to school with were international adoptees by families in town. My, Kasey’s, father was actually the notary for many of those adoptions and would help the family while they filled out paperwork at his bank branch by entertaining the children with snacks and candy. It was always something we were aware of as something to help individuals enter safe spaces, create family, and find love and acceptance. Our future brother-in-law is adopted, and talks happily and proudly of his experiences with adoption and could not be happier for us as we take this next step in growing our family. Our story began growing up in Prospect, Connecticut together as friends, dating on and off, eventually finding our way back to each other in 2010. When life, and a job, meant moving to Florida, Mike was 100% on board for the adventure despite never having been so far away from home. We have weathered family member’s illness, death, getting married younger, buying a house, pet illness, and loss together. We have always wanted a family but wanted to be financially stable and set enough to not have a child grow up with an uncertain future that can occur with a father working in blue collar work and a mother young in her career can cause. Unfortunately, while trying to get established, and due to the nature of Mike’s field a few lay offs occurred before we could start trying. While navigating this, we also faced a debilitating endometriosis diagnosis. I struggled with a cane and was placed in medically induced menopause for two years while we struggled to decide how to handle this. There was even talk of having to have a hysterectomy at one point.I have been told that it would be extremely difficult, and potentially dangerous, to have my own children due to this. After having surgery, we took an additional two years before broaching the subject of adoption again. It had been a conversation prior to the surgery but we wanted to ensure that any decision we made was the right one. Not a replacement for what we had lost, but acknowledging what we will gain and the child we will be able to love and watch grow. Our little family has struggled. We come from two very different backgrounds growing up. But we have seen and done things together that we wouldn’t change for the world. We are doing everything we can to grow our family and will do everything possible to make this happen. We are saving, applying for every grant we can and appreciate every consideration we are given, our families are helping as much as they are able with their financial constraints, and we will apply for loans if needed. We are very big on found family. Whether it's our pets or our friends. To us, this is an expansion. When we have our child we want to teach them to love fiercely, be kind, work hard, and that success isn’t measured by how much money you make; but by how much happiness you have in your life. On paper or looking at us we aren’t perfect. We are actively working on paying down debts. We both now have stable jobs, are in good positions, and can do this. We just need to get to the end goal. We appreciate any consideration that is offered to us. Thank you, Mike Duncan and Kasey Officer-Duncan What your support covers How we'll use the funds: The founds would cover adoption costs such as the fees for the agency, the legal fees, or the fees that can vary such as travel or birth mother fees. All fees are paid directly to the agency. What this would mean to us It will help us start our family. We have been cutting expenses, working overtime, paying down anything we can, and saving. We are doing everything to make our dream of a family come true and open our home to a child that we can love and give everything we possibly can to.