The Beginning Of Our Adoption Journey~Diagnosis, Surgery & Infertiltiy 

Heather you make things so personal and comfortable, it’s like sitting down and having a conversation with you. You’re a great storyteller. And thank you for your vulnerability.

I’m glad your strong desire to parent a child overrode your desire to have a child. In the end you were blessed to parent eight wonderful children. Congratulations!

Heather, I totally understand where you're comin from. I got married when I was 32. My husband knew I had Severe Endometriosis and said if we wanted to just adopt that was fine with him. I didn't want to at the time. I got pregnant 3 months after we were married and ended up miscarrying her. I was devastated. My sister was pregnant at the same time and had her baby. I was happy for her, but also angry and jealous. We tried 4 more years and then I couldn't take the emotional rollercoaster anymore. I had a complete Hysterectomy and felt physically better...no more pain. I was then ready to adopt. We adopted our daughter first and our son nearly 2 years later. They're from different families in different states. Our daughter was a private adoption with contact through letters (via attorney) for 1 1/2 years, to her birth mother. Our son was in Foster Care and we've never had contact with his Birth family. It was a closed adoption. Both of our kids are grown up now and are doin their own thing.

We struggled with infertility for 8 years before we had our son. I had him at 40 and he is an amazing and bright 6 year old now!❤️

Oh I love this. Yes please continue the story. I was able to have one son, and never knew he would be my one and only. Also have PCOS and endometriosis.

Luke was made to be a father and Heather you were called to be a mother. Together your parenting journey has enriched so many. Thank you ❤❤

My daughter also has severe endometriosis. She had surgery twice to remove as much as possible. Just last week she had a total hysterectomy and removal. During the procedure they found lesions on her colon...so she goes in January for tests to find out what that is about. The total hysterectomy lowers her chances of the endometriosis coming back to only 8% and also of female cancers. (fingers crossed) she is fortunate enough to have had 4 beautiful children. Hopefully now she will be free of pain. And there are different levels of endometriosis.

OMG!!! I remember my mom dragging me to Fashion Bug while she shopped. So funny!

I just found out I have endometriosis and it was after I got a large cyst removed. Thanks for uploading this

Heather thank you for sharing all this with us..and to know you were in premed was something I had not known and found it to be a very interesting part of your journey. Again thank you for sharing all this with us 💗

Yes please continue this series. I love hearing about your journey. I’m hoping to adopt as a single mother and your videos are so inspiring.

Please do more of these please! I’ve been following you for a while and You have inspired me. My husband and I are having fertility issues and I would get so down on myself but we have started the foster care process and it has made me so excited again! ❤️

My mom (actually step) suffered the same with infertility, miscarriages, false pregnancies. I remember being so heartbroken for her (I was between ages 9 to 14 while they tried). Then we fostered, got two wonderful boys, on the days they were born. Both full siblings. They were in our foster care, then came the day we got the call that mom was waiving her rights and we could adopt them. Best day ever.

I was just thinking (toward the end of your story) I hope you do a #2 real soon because I really want to hear your amazing story! Praying for you Heather!

I love you and your family more than I can say. Your channel keeps me strong in my path.. I am 50 yrs old. I was diagnosed with endometriosis at 16, I had my first surgery right away. I was a stage 3. I never wanted to have children when I was young. I grew up mormon with a stepfather who did not like me. I became pregnant right away when I moved to NYC. Total Surprise! Children make everything worth while... My oldest daughter was born with a birth defect and I never let her think that there was something she could not do.. Fast Forward... She became a professional dancer. 17 years ago my journey of fighting child trafficking and sexual exploitation began(although I didn't know it in that moment)while competing at a national competition I was shown a pornographic picture of a 12 yr old girl. I did in that moment leave that scene, un 2005 I thought child trafficking didn't happen in America.. A few years later I found my child for sale on line. I've been at war every day since that day.. I am still fighting. I watch your family almost every day.. I cry with tears of joy and love. I love your story. I especially love Robert's story and seeing the boys with you. Growing up feeling responsible for younger siblings is something I know very well. I hope that you will know how much your channel has done for me personally...Happy Thanksgiving and may you and your family continue to be happy and healthy..

Hi Bell Family! I love love love your family!!! Your family is the best! Luke and Heather, you should be very proud of yourselves and all your children. I used to watch anothe RU-vid channel about a family In New York. What a bunch of phony people. Ever since I found your channel, it restores my faith in good God fearing families. Keep up the good work.

Please continue your story . It took my husband and I years to get pregnant. We really thought it was never going to happen. I remember crying every single month .

My husband and I have been trying for 9 years to conceive. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and pcos. We have come to a point of acceptance and want to adopt. Just have to figure where to start.

Please continue ! I’d love to hear more. I have a sister who is the beginning stages of what you went thru.

I’m 29 and remember fashion bug! I love fashion bug

Stay HAPPY Heather...🙏

I love this! I have never been throw this, so I don’t know how you feel or felt. I am glad that you are able to tell use about it! I can’t wait to hear more of your story!

I have unexplained infertility. I wanted 10 children the day I got married. We never adopted or had children. Thank you for sharing your story.

Great family. We here wonderful. Kids made ur house a home

God bless you Heather. Thank you for sharing your journey.

You are so generous to share your story with us. I know this video has helped people and you’re a gem. Thank you.

Love this! Thank you for sharing! Definitely would love to hear more!!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s something similar to mine. Please continue to share ..your family is so beautiful.

No need to wait for a specific day to continue the story of your journey. Your story can help so many people!

Thank you for speaking about your story ❤❤❤

Thank you SO much for sharing! So inspiring gives me lots of hope 🤍

You have such courage sharing your story ❤️

Yay!! I’m excited for this story!

Can’t wait for part 2

Im not sure if Luke would feel comfortable with talking about this topic but it would be a great to hear his side on this topic. I went through the infertility process and it had a huge impact on my marriage to my ex husband. Would be great to here a males view on how their feeling throughout it all :)

❤ LOVE your BEAUTIFUL story...

You knowHeather some times God has other plans for other people Im glad God blessed u with 8 beatuiful children weather there adopt or your a foster child there still love in the world for all children that need them Yes i understand u just want one thats from u more

I had that also. I was unable to have kids. I fully understand what you went thru.

Love this story! My brother's and myself are all adopted

God bless you for sharing this 🙏🏻 I just lost an ovary due to torison ☹️ I had no idea, I didn’t have any complications. But unlike you I am not so lucky in love so I just have to learn to love my self and hopefully be able to adopt as a single parent one day🙏🏻💫

Please keep sharing

I love that even though you had this condition you were able to give birth to one child you got to experience having a baby and adopting kids that really needed a home.

I don't know if you'll see this because it's been a while. Since you posted the video. But I just started watching you recently and watching this video with you and knowing exactly what you're going through. Because the same thing happened to me. Only difference with me had a tipped uterus and one of my ovaries had adhered to the outside of it and he said. No wonder you had a hard time getting pregnant cause I tried for 15 years. Nothing, then hold the button, d***, I was pregnant and I didn't miss carriage at 8 weeks. 2 months later on birth controlled, faithfully then yet I got pregnant again and I was doing January. She decided to come in October. Cause she had a mind of her own LO. L. She still does, ha ha ha. Now she's 16 going on 30 yikes! LO. L but I absolutely 100% feel your pain. I had the same problem when I was in school. I was home. Miserable horrible pain and now my daughter is going through the same thing. So I'm kind of scared for her if she wants to have children later on. And something happens that it's gonna be a struggle. Or she's not going to be able to, but don't worry. She assured me I'll still have grand pets LOL! Guess that's better than nothing right?!

Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Both of my adult daughters have pcos and one may have endometriosis. My mother has endometriosis.

I agree! I love you! 💝😍🥰

Thank you Heather, I was never able to have children myself. And i have had some people that thought it was ok, to make fun of me because i couldn't. And I have thought about fostering children. And a really good friend of mine, thinks I should become a foster mother.

I love your big heart.

I wish I could sit and have a cup of coffee with you and just talk.

Bless you for sharing this, I’m so glad things worked out. It’s funny you say about just “knowing” something may not be right, I’ve not wanted kids since I was a kid (I’m 38 now), and always had the feeling that if I had wanted and tried for a baby that something would be or go very wrong. Fast forward to my early 30s and I found out I have cysts on my ovaries (periods have always been regular, but would take me out for days in high school), doctors said I’d struggle to conceive and would need operations if I was to try. Weird eh!

I absolutely love your channel and your energy, recipe’s, content, kids, everything but.. your beautiful fur babies doggies , kitties never are inside when it’s fridgid up north in the UP! They are a part of the family it’s hard to see them dirty and freezing!

Trying to locate the next part of this story

Please continue story 💟

Although I don’t have endometriosis, I have had a miscarriage at a very young age (18). I too felt that same pain of seeing people with their babies and being jealous. I was pregnant the same time as my bf’s little cousin and she had her baby. It was very hard being around her after my miscarriage.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I had that for 9 years!

There's a saying here in Ireland, "Tell God your plan and he laughs at you".

They think my daughter has endometriosis I'm so worried about her she's fixing to have surgery to take out a endometrioma cyst. She hurts so bad sometimes.

I have struggled to have children have 2, they are 12 and 6... and lost twins .... getting pregnant isn’t easy for me.. thank you

I had endometriosis n at 26 I had to get complete hysterectomy.

Yeah my sis has cysts she barley got pregnant with her second child this year . I am sorry. I have ovarian failure from age 27 right after I got my 3 doses of HPV vaccine they failed 1 year later. I blame the vaccine it’s poison. Thanks for sharing.

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