Stretch Marks

My man and I had all but abandoned the dream of becoming parents after enduring miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and a devastating failed adoption. Then out of the blue, a call ignited a spark of hope and within weeks we’d been smittened by two abandoned toddlers in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, one of the most dangerous cities in North America. Within months, my American bravado, and Mexican heritage emboldened my decision to live in Juárez, but I was unprepared for the onslaught of isolation and fear for my sons’ safety while I plowed through a labyrinthine adoption process. Yet my greatest challenge came from within as I confronted the reality of raising two troubled boys and was rattled by the incessant question and doubt. Had I made the right choice?