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Family Gives Whole Heart to Adopting a Child With Special Needs

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Dec 8, 2012 at 9:01 PM MDT

Story Updated: Dec 8, 2012 at 9:01 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. For many years, Todd and Melissa Schmitt talked about adopting a child with special needs.

"Very often they're just kindof passed aside because they're special needs. They have a soul, they have thoughts, you know, they need someone to love them," Melissa said.

After having three children of their own, the moment came when they decided to do more than just talk.

"There was just something special, special about Lance. Pretty much from the second we saw him we were stuck. Everybody was just 'can we bring him home!" said Melissa.

Their oldest daughter, seven-year-old Elliana, said, "I'm so SO excited!"

Todd said, "There's never a perfect time to do anything, but we're willing, we're able and you know, we can love more kids than what we have!"

Their new baby Lance has cerebral palsy. While they have a good idea as to the extent of his condition, they won't fully know until they bring him home.

"He can't sit up, he can't roll over. There's a good chance that the rest of his life he'll be in our home unable to walk, maybe unable to talk, and that's something maybe sometimes people get intimidated by," said.

Through the organization Reece's Rainbow, people looking to adopt a child with special needs can do so, and know they'll have support emotionally and financially along the way.

"There are so many grants out there, there are a lot of options and that life is worth fighting for," said Melissa.

Todd also said, "There are so many kids that just need a little bit of love and a family."

"You can shut down your computer and look the other way, but that child is still going to be in that crib," Melissa said.

For more on Reece's Rainbow, click here.

To help the family raise money to bring Lance home, find them on Facebook here.

To visit Melissa's blog, where the family is tracking their adoption journey, click here.

Melissa urges anyone looking for more information on adopting a child with special needs to contact her:
schmitty377@aol.com

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melissa schmitt said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 3:13 PM

Thank you so much for sharing our story!

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