The Crocker family prayed for Maaran before they even knew he would be their son.
“My husband approached me about pursuing adoption in 2018 and it had been weighing on my heart at the time too,” Cassie Crocker said.
After researching agencies to adopt from, Bryce and Cassie Crocker chose an adoption agency and began the early stages there. After finding out they were pregnant with their daughter, they paused the process but resumed at the end of 2019. They learned they were not eligible to adopt there because they had more biological children than the amount allowed at that specific agency for the India program they had selected. They heard about Lifeline and began the process there, once again pursuing adoption from India.
“We felt God calling our family to special needs adoption, so we prayed through the mild to moderate special needs list,” Cassie said. “Then, we moved on to an even more complex special needs list.” Even though they carried some hesitations and fears, they walked in confidence assured that the Lord was calling them to pursue special needs adoption and that He would equip them to walk this journey.
So many children who have complex special needs don’t have a family waiting for them. The Crocker family felt in their hearts that God was calling them in that direction.
“We noticed Maaran before we were even approved to adopt, and he stood out from the beginning for us,” Cassie said. The Crocker’s good friends, also pursuing international adoption, had reserved Maaran’s file in the spring of 2019. They had his file reserved in hopes that they would match. They started the process right before the Crocker’s. However, their home study social worker did not feel like they should expand their special needs list to include Maaran’s severe needs. This factor paired with other closed doors and much prayer confirmed that Maaran was not their son, as hard as that was for them at the time. In November 2020, the Crocker’s matched with Maaran. They soon learned that the little boy their friends had reserved a file for was the same little boy they were pursuing to adopt now – Maaran. What could be perceived as a coincidence acted as further confirmation of God’s intention for Maaran to be in the Crocker family.
Through switching agencies, lost matches, and a pandemic God knew that Maaran belonged in their family. One year after matching with him, the Crocker family picked up their 4-year-old son in India.
“Everything Lifeline does is under the realm of prayer,” Cassie said. One of the reasons they were drawn to Lifeline is that each decision in the adoption process is thoughtfully made through prayer. The Crocker family felt comfortable talking to their caseworkers about their faith throughout the adoption process. God has especially worked through the Crocker family’s pursuit of adoption in their kids. They were so welcoming and open-minded as Maaran transitioned into the family. “I have to devote a lot more time to Maaran due to his medical needs, but the kids have been so understanding every step of the way.” Their other son, Bryson, shares a room with Maran and when he wakes up in the morning, he wants to climb right in bed with Maran and snuggle with him. Their brotherly bond was instant!
“I would encourage other families who are pursuing adoption to trust in the Lord’s provision and believe that He will equip you to do this if He wants you to do this,” Cassie said. She explained that attending conferences like Rooted in Love before adopting changed their perspective on adoption and helped them feel prepared. “It’s going to be hard and difficult,” Cassie said, “but if you find your group of people to support you and rely on the Lord, He will carry you through.” The Crocker’s prepared themselves before bringing Maaran into their home by identifying resources in their community that could help them with his medical needs, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy for his cerebral palsy. They also investigated a school in their town serving children with special needs. “Based on the level of needs your child presents,” Cassie said, “the preparation process will look different.”
Maaran will always have significant health issues and physical disabilities, but he is thriving! He has gained ten pounds, grown several inches, and developed so much strength since he joined the Crocker family. He is very sociable and full of joy. “He has an incredible team of providers helping with all his needs,” Cassie said, “and a wonderful therapy team who are pushing him to do more than we expected, like walking in a gait trainer already!”
The Crocker’s encouraged other parents to pray about the needs they don’t believe they are equipped to handle.