Larry and Kelly Peterson first met when they were just 10 years old at a Spina Bifida camp where they discovered they were born on the same day.
After dating in high school, they lost contact for 10 years, but they reconnected on social media and fell (back) in love. In 2015 the Indiana couple got married, and decided to pursue adoption so they could raise a family.
Although Kelly—who isn’t able to give birth to a biological child—was once told that her disability might also prevent her from adopting, she and Larry never gave up. Through a special needs adoption agency, they discovered baby Hadley’s story and knew they could offer her the love, support, and understanding she needed.
This July, not only did Larry and Kelly celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary, they marked five years since they expanded their family by adopting the baby girl who, like them, has Spina Bifida.
Thanks to Special Angels Adoption, the Petersons got their daughter. The couple knew they were ready to parent Hadley because of their deep understanding of the issues she is facing—and will face in the future.
So far, parenting has been both joyous and challenging. They have basked in the happiness of seeing her personality develop and watching her hit milestones. Even though Kelly has extensive experience with children with disabilities, due to being a special education teacher for over 20 years, being a parent is a whole different ball game.
They’re learning to adapt to parenting from their wheelchairs. Kelly has no use of her legs but Larry can walk while holding onto things—so they figure out ways to care for their daughter without exceeding their physical limits—with a little help from their families who live nearby.
Now, the couple wants to be a resource for other adults with Spina Bifida who are hoping to adopt. They want to help alleviate stigmas and negative stereotypes regarding disability and parenting, and also be available to any parents who recently received an SB diagnosis in the family.
They run a Facebook page called Journey Down a Country Road: Spina Bifida + Adoption= Our Family, for people to ask questions or seek support on topics such as adoption and parenting.
“We want to let society see that people with Spina Bifida live a life just like their non-disabled peers. It’s nothing shocking or amazing. We are living our life just like everyone else,” Kelly said.
Larry and Kelly encourage people with Spina Bifida who are looking to become parents to not let your disability, your fears, or other people’s opinions hold you back from pursuing this goal. As far as adoption as a disabled person, they urge people not to accept the word, “no” from agencies and to be mindful that policies vary depending on the agency.
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“Adoption is a learning process and you need to keep pushing along,” they said.
Hadley also receives loving care at Shriners Children’s Chicago, where she has undergone one surgery and benefits from physical and occupational therapies. For Kelly, who was also a Shriners Children’s patient, this brought their journey full circle.
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[Correction: An earlier version of the story said July was their 5th wedding anniversary.]