Stories of YES #15 - Joseph

"Our story of ‘Yes’ is one that changed our hearts and lives forever. It’s a story of love, hope, heartbreak, and faith deeper than we ever thought possible...

“Terminal"
"Dying"
"Aging out”

These were a few of the terms used to describe his dire situation - "Montgomery" needed a family, and he needed it fast. JOSEPH. We knew this boy was our son, and there was no holding us back now.We scrambled. We fought. And we begged God to keep Joseph alive until we could get to him.

After waiting thirteen long years for a family to SEE him, Joseph’s lifelong dream of having a family was finally coming true. We prayed that his very broken heart would hold on during the wait; We prayed for Joseph to be given more time so we could bring him home..

During those crazy three months of fighting to expedite his adoption, Joseph was admitted to the ICU in China and almost lost his life. I remember vividly how our agency suggested we put the adoption ‘on hold’ as it didn’t look like Joseph was going to survive. Call us stubborn, but we didn’t listen. We knew Joseph was going to make it, and we weren’t about to give up on him now.

We prayed more. You prayed alongside us. And - by the grace of God - Joseph became our beloved son on June 5th, 2017 - three short months after we'd returned from China with our daughter Annie. I sat in front of my phone, crying my eyes out as my husband, Justin, and my son, Brian, met Joseph for the first time. I can still feel the goosebumps I felt when his loving Baba (Daddy) took him in his arms for the very first time, reassuring him that Mommy was at home anxiously waiting for him. Our teeny-tiny thirteen-year-old son was - finally - an orphan no more.

Over the next fifteen months, Joseph lived out loud! He laughed, he sang, and he danced. He hugged, he dreamed, and he loved...always with a smile. He overcame countless IVs, blood draws, seizures, strokes, and surgeries. We almost lost him multiple times, but he kept holding on, because his will to live was stronger than his extremely broken body.

Joseph ultimately lost his lifelong battle with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), but not until he had completed all items on his bucket list - having a family topped his list. When God finally called him home, he didn’t die alone - but as a beloved, treasured son, tightly wrapped in the arms of his Momma. Joseph was prayed for, chosen, cherished...and loved more than anything.

He was - and will always be - our son, and our HERO."

- Maike Doty