A SON IS GIVEN Chapter 116

Adoption in Canada was free where each provincial government managed it. We were told it would take from 11-12 months after the application and home visits before a child would be available. It was late June 1969 when the call came for us to come to the adoption office. They had a baby for us. We were surprised. It is nothing like waiting for the birth of a child. At a birth you have a fairly good idea when the child will come. At adoption it is a sudden surprise, especially for us. It had only been seven months. Our son was born on April 9^th and he came to us three months later.

We were a nervous wreck as we drove to the adoption agency. Della took the call and neglected to ask the sex. What were we getting? We loved our social worker. She was kind and helpful all along the way. She met us with a great big smile and immediately said, “Would like to meet your son?” She brought him in and placed him in Della’s arms and tears rolled down both our cheeks.

Rod is nearly one in this photo

As we went through information and completed adoption procedures we were once again warned that while the birth mother had signed papers to release her son, she could change her mind within the next year. That is the fear adopting parents lived with in those days. We knew it but believed God would not allow us to lose our firstborn.

As we went through information about his birth parents – both college students, both extremely bright, no longer together. The foster home that cared for him provided one diaper; two bottles and a half can of formula, the clothes on his back and the baby blanket in which he was wrapped. Only one thing really bothered us. He was only 2 ounces heavier than his birth weight. He had not been cared for, as he should. At least that was our opinion.

When we left we drove directly to Dr. Hindmarsh’s office to have him checked. He was definitely under weight. He had begun to whimper on the way home. Della fed him as we went back to Osler Street. We stopped for diapers and more formula. We were met at our house by aunt Betty Turnbull. She was our good friend and often our sitter as well.

It was that night we were introduced a seriously crying baby. It seemed we could do nothing to calm him down. It was hours before he gave up and we were back to the doctor the next morning. What is wrong? Colic! We had four more months of his screaming and crying every single night. We quickly learned that the only way to keep him calm was movement. We could walk with him, rock him, push him in his stroller or take him for a drive. We could not stop for nearly three hours each night (6-9).

Easter Sunday before he turned one.

Della gave up everything but Pioneer Girls to be home with him. I stayed home that night, but she became frustrated that I was out nearly every night. At one point she demanded that I come home more evenings and relieve her. She needed a break. This was the beginning of a necessary change in what was a deteriorating relationship. I spelled her off half the time. My heart broke for Della’s pain and that of our son. I would rock and walk praying for them both and screaming to God for healing. The colic ran its course and through coming together to support one another in this pain, we fell in love all over.

Out social life took a big hit. We could barely spend any time apart from him. He needed attention every night. Betty could help some, but not much until the colic broke. It always came back to us. We finally gave up going out except to out friends the Tracy’s. He managed better at their place and we enjoyed being with another family who adopted. Doc told us colic would come to an end, but any parent who has had a colic child knows the end cannot come soon enough.

We needed Rodney James Walker not just for his sake but also for our marriage. God allowed our son to heal our love. He was our gift from God.