Guest Bio - From Western Journal
Heather Crockett Oram has a very unusual story that has been touching the hearts of thousands. She’s experienced hardship in her life, losing her mother and sister to addiction.

When Heather herself was just a few weeks old, doctors discovered that her ovaries weren’t “hooked up right,” as she told Love What Matters. Her fate was sealed before she was even a year old: Heather would never be able to carry or give birth to her own biological children.

She grew up, got an MA, and became a nurse — all the time thinking about adopting one day. She met a man she fell in love with, but it was difficult for her to tell him that she’d never be able to conceive. He already had two kids of his own, but she knew she had to tell him.

“Before we got engaged, I told him the biggest secret of my life,” she wrote. “One that only a handful of people knew about me. I sobbed as I told him. He then grabbed my face and told me it didn’t matter how our children came to us. They would be OUR children.”

Deciding that adoption was for them, they began the process of creating an online presence, choosing to try to reach out to mothers-to-be themselves instead of going through expensive agencies. They had to sift through scams for a while, but eventually, they found a good fit.

“September 1st we got a phone call from this woman in Missouri and we talked for an hour and a half. Over the next month we built our relationship and became increasingly excited. However, she never got us official proof of pregnancy.”

Liking the mother-to-be but unsure if they would be able to proceed, they renewed their online adoption profile and got another potential match the next day.

“She had been watching our profile and wanted to meet us,” Heather wrote. “Two days later we met in a little diner 20 minutes from our house. Just when we thought she had stood us up, in walked a very pregnant girl and her mom. We hugged and she showed us the ultrasounds of a little baby boy. He then started kicking and she had me feel her belly.”

“Towards the end of breakfast she asked us how we felt. She then asked us if we would adopt her baby and love him forever. Jason and I sobbed. In the middle of a diner. In complete shock.”

On Oct. 30 last year, they were present for Andy’s birth, and their family of four became a family of five. But there were more surprises in store.

“She told me she had just told the other family she did not feel good about them adopting her baby,” Heather continued. “She then told me that she knew this baby was supposed to be ours. I stood there holding my 3-month-old baby boy and she sent me pictures of an ultrasound of the baby boy growing in her stomach. I was speechless. But I also knew. Deep down I knew.”

“Over the next two weeks my husband and I prayed a lot about adding another newborn to our family only months apart. The same resounding answer came again and again. Six weeks after that phone call we flew out with Andy to Missouri and met a woman and her three children the night before she was being induced. We all instantly connected.”

“These 4 boys have my whole heart equally,” wrote Jason Orem on Instagram. “And, never did I imagine that after bringing Ellis home, his biological teenage brother would soon follow and we would have 5 boys to love and care for (no pressure😬).”

“I love all 5 boys unconditionally and I hope I can teach them at least some of what they will need to be strong, successful and loving men. Thank you for following us on our journey.”