Perfectly Placed

21 - When Love Means Letting Go

His parents believed letting him go was an act of love. At just two and a half years old, Dana was sent alone from Japan to America, leaving behind everything he knew and beginning a journey that would shape generations. In this moving conversation, author Loren Stephens shares the true story that inspired her novel, including the hidden family secrets, heartbreaking sacrifices, and unexpected discoveries that emerged as she researched her husband's adoption story. We also explore the meaning behind the book's title, All Sorrows Can Be Borne, which comes from the belief that even life's deepest pain becomes lighter when someone is willing to listen. That idea resonates deeply with the mission of Perfectly Placed: creating space for honest adoption stories to be told, heard, and understood. Because when we share our stories, we not only honor our own journeys—we help others carry theirs. This episode is a powerful reminder that adoption stories are rarely simple, but they are always rooted in love, loss, resilience, and the search for belonging. Purchase All Sorrows Can Be Borne here [https://a.co/d/00P7QOUg]. Share your story [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkqOwxZDgkImesNY9ja7-pDcWhlUcH8SfceXlsyOerf3EVoQ/viewform?usp=header] on Perfectly Placed! Read our blog [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/perfectly-placed/episode21] and learn more about Placed [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/]!

20 - It's Okay to Talk About the Forgotten Adoption Option

In this episode, Marcy Bursac, adoptive mom, author, and founder of The Forgotten Adoption Option [https://forgottenadoptionoption.org/], shares her family’s foster care adoption journey and the experiences that led her to create resources supporting adoptive families across the country. This conversation explores common misconceptions about foster care adoption, the importance of honest adoption education, and how schools, churches, businesses, and communities can better support adoptees and adoptive families. A thoughtful and encouraging conversation about advocacy, visibility, and the power of saying yes. Resources Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program [https://fostercareadoptionreadingprogram.org/] Buy Marcy's Books [https://forgottenadoptionoption.org/books] Listen to her Podcast [https://pod.link/1542072701]

19 - A 40-Year Journey From Placement to Reunion

In today’s episode, we hear Monica’s story, a birth mother who became pregnant at 15 and faced a decision that would shape the rest of her life. With limited support and few options, she placed her son for adoption through a fully closed process. Monica shares what that experience was like decades ago, including the isolation, the stigma, and the weight of carrying that decision forward. For years, she lived with unanswered questions about her son and his life. More than 40 years later, those questions were answered when they were finally reunited. Her story is a powerful reminder that adoption doesn’t end at placement. It continues across a lifetime, shaping both loss and healing in unexpected ways. Share your story [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkqOwxZDgkImesNY9ja7-pDcWhlUcH8SfceXlsyOerf3EVoQ/viewform?usp=header] on Perfectly Placed! Read our blog [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/perfectly-placed/episode19] and learn more about Placed [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/]!

18 - Making a Difference Outside the Box

If you’ve been curious about Safe Haven Baby Boxes or how they actually work, this episode walks you through it in a real and personal way. This episode features Caitlin Kelly - a mom of four, two through adoption - and the story behind her family and what led her into this work supporting children and families in crisis. What started as a personal journey grew into something much bigger. Caitlin shares how her faith and experiences shaped a deep commitment to making sure parents have safe options and that every child is given a chance. This conversation goes beyond the headlines and invites you to see the people and stories behind the need. Because at the end of the day, every child’s life matters, and we all have a role to play. Share your story [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkqOwxZDgkImesNY9ja7-pDcWhlUcH8SfceXlsyOerf3EVoQ/viewform?usp=header] on Perfectly Placed! Read our blog [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/perfectly-placed/episode18] and learn more about Placed [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/]!

17 - Eight Kids, One Yes at a Time

Teisha didn’t set out to become a mom of eight. What began as a single yes slowly grew into something much bigger than she or her husband ever planned. In this episode, she walks us through the real timeline behind her family: kinship placements, reunifications, adoptions, and the moments in between where decisions weren’t simple, but they were clear. We talk honestly about what foster care actually asks of you: not just opening your home, but doing the internal work to show up for kids who carry real trauma and real loss. Teisha shares the weight of those decisions, the tension between protecting your heart and choosing to love fully anyway, and why her biggest fear was never getting attached, but not doing enough. This conversation also pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to raise a large, blended family rooted in both biology and adoption. From maintaining sibling connections across homes to making sure each child feels individually known, Teisha offers a grounded, lived-in picture of family that is messy, intentional, and deeply connected. Share your story [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkqOwxZDgkImesNY9ja7-pDcWhlUcH8SfceXlsyOerf3EVoQ/viewform?usp=header] on Perfectly Placed! Read our blog [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/perfectly-placed/episode17] and learn more about Placed [https://www.placedadoptioned.com/]!