Jason always knew he wanted to be a father. Even when life didn’t follow the traditional path, that dream never left him. When he realized that his former partner didn’t share his desire to have children, he knew he needed to carve out a different route to build the family he hoped for.
He began his journey with Koinonia through the foster-to-adopt program. Over time, he opened his home and heart to several children in foster care. Each child brought something unique to his life, and while none of those placements resulted in adoption, Jason understood the bigger picture.
“Every child I fostered ended up reunified with their birth family,” he said. “And that’s a good thing. That’s the goal of foster care.”
Still, Jason held onto the hope that one day he’d get to adopt. He eventually turned to private adoption, hopeful about the possibilities, though the journey still came with its share of frustrations and unexpected dead ends. Then, in November 2024, everything changed.
He got a call from a couple who were expecting a baby in January. They had heard about Jason and wanted to speak with him. He immediately reconnected with Koinonia and began working with experienced adoption attorneys across multiple states.
But there wasn’t much time. At the end of November, Jason woke up to a phone call: the expectant mother had gone into early labor. There were complications, and a C-section was scheduled for that night. The baby girl would be arriving early—and fast.
Jason quickly packed and made his way to Wyoming, and then to Utah, where newborn Aurora had been transferred to a NICU. She was born at 2 a.m. and Jason arrived at the NICU by 10 p.m. the next night, where he finally met his daughter for the first time.
Though born prematurely, Aurora was strong. Doctors expected her to stay in the NICU for weeks—but in just four days, she was ready to go home.
The logistics of bringing her home were complex. Jason was navigating adoption laws across three different states—Wyoming, Utah, and California—all while caring for a newborn. But with Koinonia’s unwavering support and the guidance of trusted attorneys, everything fell into place. Within two weeks, he was cleared to bring Aurora home.
He named her Aurora, which means “new dawn,” a nod to the new beginning they were stepping into together. Her middle name, Mae, is a tribute to his mother.
Now nearly eight months old, Aurora is thriving. She’s crawling, rolling, and showing more of her personality every day. “She’s amazing,” Jason says. “She already copies how I say goodbye to her. She lights up when she sees me. She’s got so much personality.”
Jason’s love for his daughter is evident in everything he does—from the mural of the Northern Lights in her nursery, to the thoughtful way he’s building her future. She’s the first and only grandchild on his side of the family, and she’s surrounded by love and support. Jason dreams of showing her the world—visiting every state in the U.S., traveling to different countries, and creating opportunities that help her discover who she wants to be.
Throughout the process, Jason also encountered some unexpected barriers. As a single man pursuing adoption, he faced bias and skepticism—from doctors, insurance companies, even other agencies.
“Some agencies told me I was the lowest priority,” he shared. “But Koinonia never made me feel that way. They saw me. They supported me.”
And like many new parents, Jason faced the adjustment of life with a newborn. “You hear about sleep deprivation, and people always say, ‘You forget.’ I didn’t really understand that until I was in it,” he laughs. “Now that she sleeps through the night, I get it. You forget, because all of it is so worth it.”
His advice to others considering adoption? “It’s a great way to create or grow your family. Yes, it can be complicated, especially across states—but with the right support, it’s more than possible. Koinonia was an essential part of that. They walked me through every step.”
He adds, “Adoption is love. It’s family. And I don’t want Aurora to ever feel like she’s missing anything just because I’m a single dad. She’s going to grow up knowing she’s loved deeply and unconditionally—and that she can do anything.”
Kaitlin Earnest, Contributor