Davenport, Iowa, Nov 6, 2011 / 11:19 am
Tom and Eileen Heinold thought of adoption, but didn’t fully start the process until a unique situation dropped into their laps.
The couple had a daughter who passed away not long after birth of a genetic defect. After their loss, the Heinolds didn’t pursue adoption seriously, but certainly were open to the idea. “We hadn’t started any steps toward the adoption process,” Eileen said.
The couple prays with the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in Bettendorf, Iowa every Tuesday — Tom during his lunch hour with a co-worker and Eileen at some point during her day.
Jeanne Wonio, coordinator of the Helpers, also prays outside the clinic every Tuesday. One day, praying beside her was a student from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., who said that her step-sister was pregnant and considering adoption. “I heard the mom was thinking about releasing her baby for adoption. I knew Tom and Eileen were considering adoption, so I encouraged them to look into it,” Wonio said.