Meet Damien and Elena
Our Story
Dear Friends,
We don’t know you, yet. But we feel that somehow we are already connected.
We want to adopt for many reasons. Adoption is normal to us – Damien has two adopted cousins – and something we have always been interested in. Adoption feels like a rare human experience, something beautiful and precious and where love is everywhere.
A little about us
Damien is smart, silly, caring, structured, and really good at anything he focuses on – whether that’s sports, comedy, or new business challenges. He is a wonderfully caring parent, very active and in-tune with the kids.
Elena is a doer, a fixer, and is full of passion and projects. She is equally likely to be fixing a broken drawer as she is to be hiking in the mountains as she is to be having a profound conversation with our neighborhood baker.
The kiddos are a couple of joyful tornados! They make jokes, love to climb and dance, help out with dinner, and to read. The house is full of love and laughter. They’re excited to meet the new member of the family.
After two kids, we still want to grow our family, and now is the time. In fact, we had started to adopt before the surprise pregnancy that was our second son! We’re so excited to be on this journey. As an adoptive family, all of our children – all – will be equally loved, cared for, safe, educated and go on adventures around the world.
You matter enormously to us. We know that life has many paths, and yours is so important and worthwhile because it is yours. We want you to have the chance to know us, feel comfortable with who we are, and confident that we are the right family.
If we’re a good match, we look forward to hearing from you and staying connected.
With so much love,
Elena and Damien
Photos
Interested in Damien and Elena?
Tell us a little about yourself and a counselor will reach out, confidentially and at no cost, to talk through the next step. There is never any pressure.
All inquiries are confidential. Counselor-mediated contact only. 24/7 support at (888) 767-7740.
Similar Waiting Families
Justin & Heather
United States
Although we haven’t met yet, we are so grateful that everything leading up to this moment has brought us to you! We are inspired by your courage, strength and selflessness. We feel honored to share more about our family, and can’t wait to get to know you. We are so excited by the possibility of growing our family through adoption again, and we approach this experience with deep respect for all that is involved. We recognize the strength it takes to make this decision and are committed to walking alongside you with compassion, openness, and honesty. It’s important to us that your child grows up knowing their full story – including the love and thought that led to their adoption. We believe in the importance of maintaining a meaningful, open connection with you, and creating a space where that relationship can thrive. If chosen, we will raise your child in a home filled with unconditional love, stability, and encouragement. We will nurture their dreams, support them through life’s challenges, and provide a safe place where they can always be their true selves – knowing they are deeply loved, respected, and cherished. With Gratitude and Love, Justin and Heather Our Love Story We met online playing video games in 2007. We were just teenagers then, and had become really good friends over the game Halo 3. After a couple of years, Heather flew out to Justin’s senior year prom and we started dating long distance. Justin is originally from a small town in Kentucky, and Heather is from the suburbs in Utah. Justin moved to Utah in 2011. Shortly after, we took a trip to California to go to Disneyland and the beach! Justin asked Heather to marry him on Christmas Eve at Newport Beach. She said yes! We were engaged for a couple of years (we wanted time to plan) and got married in 2013. Since then, we have built a life full of love, beautiful experiences, and unwavering support for each other. Over the years, we have been through a lot together. About a year after we got married, we quickly became pregnant. We were ecstatic! We saw our baby’s heart beat and felt so much love. Sadly, at about 9 weeks we experienced the heartbreaking loss of our baby. We took some time to grieve the loss of our baby and eventually started trying again. After about a year of struggling to conceive, we began infertility testing and found ourselves at a crossroads – choosing between IVF or adoption. Heather had ALWAYS wanted to adopt since she was a teenager. She had seen the love that can come from adoption in her own family (two of her amazing sisters are adopted). After lots of prayer and discussions, we decided to start our Foster Care journey. Our sweet oldest daughter, Ricki, came to us when she was just eight days old. After about ten months, we were blessed to officially adopt our beautiful baby girl. Four years later, our cute youngest daughter, Rylie, was conceived naturally and was a complete surprise! Shortly after Rylie was born, we decided that when it was time to grow our family again, we wanted it to be through adoption. Fast forward to now, and we are excited to start the adoption journey! Our Adventures We feel incredibly grateful for the many adventures we get to share as a family! With our Magic Key passes, we visit Disneyland every few months – it’s one of our favorite traditions. We also love camping, playing games, riding our E-bikes, and spending time outdoors. Whether we’re cheering on Real Salt Lake from our front row season tickets (the girls love it!), enjoying movie marathons, or grabbing a bite at the Cheesecake Factory, we cherish every moment together. Family time is deeply important to us. Whatever we’re doing, we focus on making the most of it and finding joy in the little things. Our bond is strong, and we’re incredibly thankful for the closeness we share.
Matt & Tessa
a safe
Hello Expectant Parent, Thank you for taking a moment to learn about us. We know this may be a tender and emotional time, and we respect the love and strength it takes to consider adoption. We hope this gives you a small but honest look into who we are and the home we hope to offer a child. Who We Are Married and deeply committed to our family Parents of a happy 4-year-old daughter who is eager to be a big sister Loving, affectionate, with lots of daily “I love yous” Happy, fun, playful, silly, and adventurous Emotionally steady, calm, consistent, and patient Strong believers in unconditional love and acceptance Active members of a Christian church congregation We enjoy skiing, hiking, traveling, games, movie nights, and being active as a family Our Work & Daily Life Tessa is an elementary school teacher who specializes in supporting struggling learners in an international school and loves helping children learn and feel confident. She is kind, silly, and a very devoted mother. She loves to learn new things, get outside, and stay active. Matt is a stay-at-home dad and full-time university student who loves spending time with our daughter and being part of her daily life. He enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and camping and loves creating fun adventures for our family. He is patient, kind, and a steady source of support for all of us. Our daughter is a joyful and energetic 4-year-old who brings a lot of laughter and curiosity into our home. She loves singing, dancing, imaginative play, and spending time outdoors. She is affectionate and loves helping with younger children, and she is very excited about the idea of becoming a big sister. A Snapshot of Our Home Some of our favorite everyday moments include: Reading bedtime stories together Playing games, crafts, or building things with our daughter Family movie nights with homemade popcorn Exploring parks, hiking trails, and outdoor adventures Talking about our day around the dinner table Family dance parties in the living room Our home is full of laughter, curiosity, and lots of hugs. Our Life & Community We currently live abroad in Italy and enjoy traveling and exploring new places across the world. We live in a safe and peaceful Italian neighborhood with a huge yard and wonderful neighbors. Our child will attend international schools (where Tessa teaches) with students from many racial, ethnic, and language background s. We also have a large, supportive extended family in the Pacific Northwest and travel home every summer for extended visits, helping our children stay closely connected to family. Our Promise to You We promise to: Love your child unconditionally Speak openly and positively about you and their adoption Support openness to the degree that you are comfortable and in a way that centers the child. Your child will always know they are wanted, valued, and loved. Thank You Thank you for taking the time to read about us. Whatever path you choose, we wish you peace, care, and support. With warmth, Matt & Tessa
Ed and Kate
a home in the country
Thank you! We are grateful you are taking the time to consider us! We deeply respect that you are thinking about your child’s future & your own future in a way that requires incredible strength, love, & resilience. We appreciate that you have hopes & dreams guiding your journey, just as we do, & we are humbled by your willingness to take this path as you help others fulfill their dream of becoming a parent. We have found that the most growth in life tends to come from experiences we never imagined or saw coming. These events have shaped us & have become a part of who we are. We hope you find all the support & care you need to feel genuinely encouraged along the way. We are so happy to provide a child with a loving place to call home. We have family & friends who have adopted or are adopted. Everyone is supportive & happy for us! We are committed & enthusiastic about being a consistent presence, adapting & supporting a child through every new phase in life & growing with them through one another’s lessons & mistakes along the way. We both value education & spiritual growth. It is important to us that they have opportunities to grow in these areas as well. We will encourage them to gain experience & knowledge in whatever holds their interest. We will want them to feel comfortable in their identity & who they are. We will not hesitate to make connections & offer them experiences that will help them explore in a stable, comfortable way & at their own pace. We value wisdom, compassion, critical thinking, humility, love, & the ability to balance that love with reason. We will encourage them to consider these things in whatever path they choose to take in life. We will also remind them it’s important to take time to laugh & appreciate everything they have. I (Kate) met Ed 16 years ago online. I messaged Ed when I realized his profile had more heart & humor than the rest. Within our first conversation, we both knew we found a match in mental energy, playful banter, loyalty, & affection. We both work from home & make coffee together in the morning. We have a home-cooked meal at night & talk about anything & everything. On the weekends, we like going to concerts, shows, & our local drive-in movie theater. We also enjoy relaxing with movie nights, playing board games, trying new restaurants, & picking fruit at our local orchard. We love to travel! We learn as much as we can, try new foods, & often go hiking & kayaking. We enjoy museums, along with exploring the hidden gems of every destination. We live in a home in the country. We moved in not long after we got married ten years ago. We enjoy eating dinner with our family, including nieces & nephew, once a week. We look forward to finding out what new family traditions a little one might inspire. We will enjoy finding out what activities light them up. If you choose us, we will always be truthful to your child & everyone we know about their journey & your love that has made it possible. We want to approach their story & your important part in it with all of our enthusiasm so they will feel genuinely uplifted by their life experiences & everything you have done for them. It will bring us deep happiness watching them grow & have new experiences! We will love spending time with them & encouraging them to lead a fulfilling life. We look forward to connecting with you, learning more about you, & hearing about your hopes & wishes. We are happy to send you updates & pictures if that is what you would like us to do. Warmly & Sincerely, Kate & Ed A little about each of us: Ed enjoys watching baseball, playing retro video games, reading, history, watching comedy shows, movies, travel, & coffee. He has always been a caring, hard-working guy who wants to lead a good life & will carry this attitude & his desire to build a solid foundation into starting a family. He makes the best of what life brings. His own experiences & lessons from those around him have taught him much, & he will bring all of his wisdom & empathy into fatherhood. Kate loves authentic conversations, story-telling, listening, cooking, taking walks in the woods, rollerblading, creative problem-solving, singing, & playing the occasional instrument. She has always enjoyed sharing music & creative activities with the children in her life & appreciates helping them to express & find their own creativity. She is beyond excited to become a parent.