Woman Adopts 2 Brothers after 9 Years of Praying to Have Kids, Later Finds Out They Have a Sibling

A couple yearned to revel in parental bliss and dote on their little ones. Sadly, their heartfelt wish was returned with a long period of struggles, longing, and waiting. After trying and praying for things to get better, they were on the brink of losing hope until they received an unexpected call.

Sarah and Shane Buchanan from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began dating in 2007 when the former finished high school. As time passed, their affection for each other deepened, and in 2009, they eternalized their love and tied the knot, surrounded by family and friends.

After graduating from college, the couple decided to start their family and thought things would go smoothly, given that they were both young and healthy. Much to their surprise, everything turned out to be completely different.

The Struggle to Become Parents

When nothing worked despite trying for six months, the Buchanans booked an appointment with their OBGYN, who told them to wait for a year and hope for the best. Sarah recalled asking the OBGYN if there was a need to get tested but was told not to worry.

After nearly two years of fostering the boys and delayed court dates, the Buchanans faced another struggle.

Still, a part of her wasn't satisfied, so she decided to perform independent research. That was when Sarah and Shane's struggle with infertility began. During their seventh year of infertility, Sarah started working in the NICU as a registered nurse, where she met a foster parent for the first time.

The Pittsburgh resident said she was touched by the foster parent's love and affection for a stranger's baby, coupled with their understanding and compassion toward the birth family. She wondered how someone could care so deeply for a child who would only stay with them temporarily.

A Sudden Shift

After witnessing the foster parent's unfiltered love and devotion, something tugged at her heartstrings, and Sarah said she felt a sudden shift. She admitted:

"During that encounter, my heart unraveled its sorrow of infertility to the prospect of aiding a child in need. I was so focused on cycles, hormones, and timing life accordingly, I lost sight of what I actually wanted."

What Sarah really wanted was much more than pregnancy — she longed to have a family. Shortly afterward, she took training to understand fostering, reunification with the biological family, and instances where temporary arrangements could lead to something permanent, such as adoption.

Receiving the Call

After nearly nine years of treatments, struggles, and sheer longing for a child, Sarah said she and her husband decided to become foster parents, hoping it would ultimately lead to adoption. At the same time, they didn't give up on the prospect of getting pregnant, thanks to the support of their loved ones.

Six months after receiving their foster care certification, the Buchanans went to watch an afternoon show of the foster care-themed movie "Instant Family." When they came out of the theater, the couple lovingly joked about how they were prepared to start a family of their own.

Astonishingly, they received a call from their caseworker later in the evening, "Hey Sarah, we have two toddler boys that are in need of a placement. Would you consider this?" Sarah said she was shocked and confused and looked at her husband, who told her, "I think these are our kids."

A Sheer Longing

With her heart pounding, the Pennsylvania woman mustered the strength to tell the caseworker that she and her husband were ready to take the children. At around 10 p.m. that night, the Buchanans became foster parents to two lovely little boys. But Sarah said she still struggled with something.

Despite welcoming two adorable boys, Sarah felt an intense longing for a baby — a daughter, instead of two toddler sons. A part of her felt guilty for harboring such thoughts, while another didn't want to give up on the prospect of adoption and a miracle pregnancy.

The next day, Shane shared a rumor that the boys' birth mother was pregnant. Initially, Sarah said she didn't believe it, thinking the caseworker would have mentioned it during the kids' placement. Moreover, taking care of three children sounded like a huge responsibility, which she wasn't prepared for.

Helping the Boys

But it turned out later that the rumor was indeed true, and the boys' biological mom was pregnant. After confirming the birth mother's pregnancy news, the caseworker asked the Buchanans, "Would you be willing to take that baby too?"

After a moment of sheer surprise and disbelief, Sarah and Shane told the caseworker they were ready to take the child and keep the siblings together. While the couple waited for the third sibling's arrival, they were faced with another task — helping their foster sons navigate the neglect and trauma they had experienced earlier.

Sarah noted that their oldest foster boy began play therapy at the tender age of three, while their younger one had developmental delays and was later diagnosed with autism. She said the two siblings had no contact with their birth parents or family, per court orders.

Welcome to the Family

Over time, the Buchanans built a loving and supportive family system, where their foster sons were the center of their attention and affection. In July 2019, the couple was finally able to hold the boys' baby sister in their arms. Sarah recollected:

"We were overjoyed with the thought of welcoming a new member into our family and hoped to keep this family of siblings together forever! My once empty arms were now overflowing with blessings I always dreamed of."

As time passed, Sarah said she decided to leave her job and become a stay-at-home mother to take care of the boys and the new baby in the wake of the pandemic. She was hopeful that her beautiful family of five would always stay together and create many worthwhile memories.

Fighting the Guilt and Pain

After nearly two years of fostering the boys and delayed court dates, the Buchanans faced another struggle. Per Sarah, she and Shane had to part with their oldest son after the foster care system determined that he needed to be moved to a residential treatment center.

The couple was shattered to lose their boy after having loved and cared for him for almost 19 months. "I have never felt more like a failure in my life. I had lost a child that was still alive but very much removed from our family," lamented Sarah.

But despite their shared trauma and grief, the Buchanans knew they had to take care of their other two kids. Sarah revealed how she struggled with her emotional and mental well-being but found the strength to keep going and be present for her family.

The Wait Was Worth It

Gradually, Sarah said she came to terms with everything and decided to be the best possible parent to her beautiful children. Finally, after 13 years of marriage, nine years of infertility, and three years of fostering, the Buchanans became a forever family in September 2022. Sarah expressed:

"Nine years. Nine years of infertility. Nine years of waiting, longing, trying, and praying for a blessing. Nine years of wanting to grow our family."

Undoubtedly, Sarah and her husband's long and challenging period of pain, loss, and struggle led them to the biggest miracles of their lives. The Buchanans continue to dote on their lovely children, Asher Reece and Aubree Kate, and we wish them nothing but love and happiness.

We are glad that Reece and Kate found a caring adoptive mother like Sarah and have a forever home where they will always feel safe and loved.