Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Baby Rachel Graduates From College


Sunday's church sermon was about Baby Rachel and the trials she has faced in her life.  This is Baby Rachel back in 1989.  You may remember the story about her...she was known as "Dumpster Baby."  Born September 27, 1989, baby Rachel was sealed inside a garbage bag with her umbilical cord and placenta still attached.  The trash bag was thrown into a dumpster.

The gentleman in the photo below is Thomas Stephenson.  He was taking out some garbage to that dumpster which was located behind his wife's floral shop.  He heard a baby crying and just before baby Rachel ran out of oxygen he retrieved the bag.  The precious little girl had a fractured skull and hematomas on both sides of her head.

Over in Dunkirk, Maryland, Jenifer and Dane Clark were watching the developing story on the news.  The couple had been hoping to adopt a child and had been on a waiting list for 8 years.  While baby Rachel was being cared for in the hospital, the Clark's filed the necessary papers to adopt little Rachel.  They were approved and took Rachel home to raise her.

For the first six years of her life, Rachel experience terrible nightmares.  Despite all the love bestowed upon her by her adoptive parents, Rachel was obsessed with the idea that they would die and leave her alone.

Rachel received a lot of therapy well into her teen years.

This is Rachel with her adoptive parents.  Even today, at the age of 23, Rachel struggles with fear of abandonment.  However, she is so grateful that her parents took her "kicking and screaming" to get the therapy that she needed.

Rachel is graduating from the University of Maryland this year...a Straight-A student.  She is getting married this summer and then wants to write a book about adoption.  Rachel and her fiance hope to have a least 4 children!

Rachel is still searching for her birth parents.  She forgives them.  She wants to tell them that she forgives them!  What a lesson we can all learn from this young girl about the power of forgiveness.

15 comments:

Net - "It's a Wonderful Movie" said...

Thank you for sharing Rachel's story. God bless her and her adoptive parents!

Dee Stephens said...

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!! Do you know them personally?

Miss Janice said...

DeAnna,
I do not know them personally...just inspired by her story!
Janice

Sam Samayoa said...

Janice,

Beautiful story and well written! Thank you for sharing!

http://disneydonefabulously.blogspot.com

AngelaV said...

She's very pretty!

Lori said...

I remember when this happened to this baby!!! I am so glad you wrote about her. What a wonderful story.

Donna said...

What a marvelous story! It is truly inspirational. Best wishes to Rachel as she starts a new chapter in her life and a hearty bravo to her parents.

Donna said...

What a marvelous story! It is truly inspirational. Best wishes to Rachel as she starts a new chapter in her life and a hearty bravo to her parents.

Rose said...

so inspiring!

Christine @ Suburban Charm said...

Wonderful story!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing family, God bless them and all who adopt.

Rose Chandler Johnson said...

This is such a beautiful and inspiring story. I didn't know about baby Rachel. God bless her and her family. Thank you so much Janice for sharing this with us.

Schotzy said...

what an amazing story of love and grace overcoming fear and abandonment!

Green Tea & Blue Jay said...

This is like a happy episode of Law & Order!

Unknown said...

What a sand and wonderful story! :)
She is a beautiful girl.

Thanks for sharing her story.

~Liz