Wendy and Jeff Reed are the proud parents of 8 wonderful children, 4 born to them and 4 that joined their family through the miracle of adoption! The Reed’s youngest biological daughter, Mikayla who is now 9, was born with Down Syndrome which they lovingly refer to as “Designer Genes”. Mikayla is such a great joy to her family, and she puts a smile on the face of everyone she meets! Mikayla opened the family’s hearts even further towards the blessings of parenting a child with special needs, and the Reeds went on to adopt four more beautiful daughters from China, all with various special needs including heart conditions, cleft lip and cleft palate, congenital corneal defect, cerebral palsy, and Down Syndrome. Mikayla even had the privilege of joining her parents on their last journey to China in September 2011 to adopt her baby sister, Khloe, who also shares the same “Designer Genes”. Mikayla was such an incredible witness to everyone she met in China, as to what a child with Down Syndrome can accomplish and do when given the opportunity, proper medical care and therapies, and of course… the love of a family! Khloe has been home just a little over a year now and is absolutely blossoming in the loving care of her family!
While in China, the Reed family had the opportunity to visit with Khloe’s Foster Family and met her Foster Brother, Joel. Joel is 8 years old and has spina bifida. Joel has such a sweet and gentle spirit and he is so clever! He has seen so many of his younger friends from the Foster Care center he attends for school and medical care leave to go home with their Forever Families and has wondered if he would ever be chosen. While playing with both Khloe and Joel during the visits with the Foster Family, the Foster Mom asked Joel if he would like to go to America with Khloe’s mom and dad. Joel enthusiastically answered that he would love to go home with the Reed’s and wished that they could be his mom and dad too. Oh, how the Reeds would somehow love to make his wish come true!
The Reeds knew that it would take some time for Khloe to adjust to her new family and that funding for a new adoption was slim. Still, Joel remained on their hearts and they heard God gently nudging them to bring home a son. In Sept 2012, the Reeds once again stepped out in faith to begin a new adoption journey, knowing that God had provided every cent needed to bring home their four precious daughters from China and would certainly do the same for Joel. The whole family is so excited to welcome Joel home to their family!
***Update!!! The Reed Family is happy to announce that they will be bringing a DARLING 14 month old baby girl home from China along with Joel! They will be naming their newest princess Sophia Elise! Sophia has a VERY complicated heart defect, and needs to come home as quickly as possible.
11/6/13—WAITING FOR TRAVEL APPROVAL
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at www.