Full Circle Adoptions 39 Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 To the Full Circle Board of Directors: We are writing this letter to let you know what a good experience it was adopting through Full Circle Adoptions. We came to Full Circle Adoptions somewhat raw from failed pregnancy attempts and apprehensive about the adoption process. Marla Allisan and the rest of the staff were extremely encouraging, sensitive and helpful as they guided us through the various steps of the adoption. Even though there is so much bureaucracy to deal with in adoption, the Full Circle staff humanized it for us from beginning to end. Marla, as both a lawyer and social worker, navigated the intricacies of the adoption process with skill, humor and understanding. Working with the Full Circle Staff was not like working with an "agency" ‚ it was more like working with a supportive, knowledgeable and friendly team. We had heard about how difficult it is to adopt but it was a fairly easy process for us. By May of 1999 our Vermont homestudy was complete as was our profile or "Dear Birthmother" letter. We told Full Circle we wouldn't be ready to adopt until September. Our son was born on September 5. Marla reminds us that it only took 5 days to adopt our son! Our son's birthmother contacted us in July of 1999 and then she disappeared from our lives. We assumed she changed her mind about giving him up for adoption. We were already hooked up with a new birthmother when we got a call from Marla at 2:00 a.m. on the morning of our wedding anniversary telling us that the original birth mother had just given birth and still wanted us to adopt her child. It was a whirlwind adoption! Thus ensued 2 full days of phone calls made by Full Circle and us. Full Circle talked us through our part of the process including talking to the birthmother and birthfather, finding a local pediatrician to talk to the hospital pediatrician, Full Circle's travel agent who deals with adoptions, adoption lawyer, etc. The 3rd day we flew to Seattle, rushed straight from the airport to the lawyer where we signed some papers, then rushed to the hospital where we saw our son Liam for the first time. The lawyer got us temporary custody and we brought our son home to a friend's house in Seattle the next day. Three days later we flew home with Liam. Our son is a delightful 2-1/2 year old ‚ he's smart, funny, and quite a character. Liam is the light of our lives and we're very grateful to Full Circle Adoptions. Sincerely, Jill & Flynn