Adoption Stories

Journey to matching panel

Day 325

Things were really ramping up behind the scenes now. Sprout's social worker was back from holiday which meant process updated were flooding in and made it possible for Bill and June to be connected with Sprout's foster carers who were keeping them updated with photographs, videos, and general updates that help ease the impatience they felt, if only a little.

Matching Panel was set for Day 347 and Bill and June were provisionally booked to meet Sprout in person for the first time on Day 345.

Before then though there were things to do. The child appreciation meeting was going to be a written report rather than a traditional meeting due to Sprouts age meaning there were few professionals involved and little to cover. There would however be a medical consultation. They would also need to meet with Sprout's social worker.

Bill and June also started creating a playlist of songs for Sprout. Now they knew more about them they felt closer to them and want to add songs that they felt a connection with that they could share with Sprout in the future. They chose songs they loved, songs with meaning, and later, songs they found Sprout loved too.

This period was probably the most emotionally tough it had been for Bill and June. Knowing that less than an hour away from them there was a little one who was destined to be theres to love and care for, but that they wouldn't even get a chance to meet them for another 3 weeks was really straining. They realise now how fortunate they were that things went as quickly as they did, but that did not detract from how it felt in the moment.

Day 333

Dates were now confirmed for everything up until matching panel.

After matching panel, assuming all went well, they would be able to start planning transitions.

Being in constant with Sprout's social worker and foster carers also meant they were now getting regular updates on how they were doing.

Day 334

Bill and June met Amanda (Sprout's social worker) for the first time, virtually at least, as she attended the medical review. The medical review didn't reveal anything new and confirmed everything Bill and June had already read in the Child Permanence Record. They still found it be a valuable experience and appreciated having an expert take them through things and confirm their understanding.

Day 338

This meeting with Helen and Amanda almost felt like it was ticking a box. Amanda was another fabulous social worker that they felt they made a good connection with straight away. Everyone was happy, ready, and raring to go to get to panel and get Sprout moving!

Day 345

Another day that will be forever embeded in Bill and Junes memories. The day they first met Sprout. They met the foster carers with Amanda, who was the first of the three to hold Sprout, and he cried. Panic ran through Bill and June as they wanted more than anything for the first time Sprout met them to bea positive experience. Thankfully after the initial tears, Sprout soon cheered up and was full of smiles for both Bill and June. They left absolutely full of love and, if possible, even more excited for matching panel and the start of transitions.