Posted 1:37 am Sunday, April 29, 2012
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A Family’s Story Of Love, Tragedy, Faith And Hope
There is a special place in Christine Knight’s heart for adoption. She was adopted as a baby back in 1970.
“My mother has told me the story of how they told me they chose me and how they waited for me. So I’ve always known that I was special,” she said.
Christine would grow up and marry Jay Knight in Tyler. “We were a couple that wasn’t sure if we wanted children,” explained Jay.
Once they decided to start a family, it didn’t come easy.
“And so adoption was a very easy decision once we realized it wasn’t going to happen naturally,” said Christine.
First, they adopted Zoe, at just 4 days old.
Christine said, “Who would know that you could love someone so much, so quickly, without knowing them is just amazing.”
Jay added, “She put her head on my chest and it was magical. There is no love like the love of a child.”
Next they would adopt little Ava.
“My mother has told me the story of how they told me they chose me and how they waited for me. So I’ve always known that I was special,” she said.
Christine would grow up and marry Jay Knight in Tyler. “We were a couple that wasn’t sure if we wanted children,” explained Jay.
Once they decided to start a family, it didn’t come easy.
“And so adoption was a very easy decision once we realized it wasn’t going to happen naturally,” said Christine.
First, they adopted Zoe, at just 4 days old.
Christine said, “Who would know that you could love someone so much, so quickly, without knowing them is just amazing.”
Jay added, “She put her head on my chest and it was magical. There is no love like the love of a child.”
Next they would adopt little Ava.
“She was a Daddy’s girl. She loved to play in the yard and pull flowers and just be a tom boy,” said Jay proudly.
Ava turned 2 on Sept. 10, 2010. Instead of a day of celebration, it turned into a day that would forever change their lives.
“Around noon, I got a call from the sitter and she was panicked and said Ava had fallen in the pool. I got home and just began to pray in the front yard as they wheeled Ava past me. In the ambulance with her, I just remember waiting to hear her voice, which I never did,” said Christine with tears welling up in her eyes.
Ava turned 2 on Sept. 10, 2010. Instead of a day of celebration, it turned into a day that would forever change their lives.
“Around noon, I got a call from the sitter and she was panicked and said Ava had fallen in the pool. I got home and just began to pray in the front yard as they wheeled Ava past me. In the ambulance with her, I just remember waiting to hear her voice, which I never did,” said Christine with tears welling up in her eyes.
“I remember that morning before I left, (Ava) just kept begging, ‘Daddy, Daddy, dance with me, dance with me, dance with me.” Recalls Jay, fighting back tears. “I said, ‘Baby I’ll dance with you real quick but I’m going to get on the road so I can get home and be here for your birthday.’ That didn’t get to happen, but we were blessed to have her for a year. She’s an amazing child.”
With a hole in their hearts, the Knights turned to their faith. “As a believer, I don’t know if there is any other way to begin to heal except to trust in God,” said Christine.
“It’s hard sometimes to see His plan evolve, but He has a plan for our life. It’s changed me in many ways. My family comes first now,” said Jay.
It also changed them in ways they could never have imagined. Christine said, “What we’ve learned is that our hearts are really big and even in spite of a loss there’s room for others, which I really don’t think I could have foreseen. We were so happy and content with the first (adoption) and remarkably blessed with the second (adoption.) So, to think we would ever consider a third is really hard to believe.”
They are open to adopting again and are sharing their story in hopes of encouraging others to open their heart to children in need. Jay said, “Now when I hear people say ‘I don’t think we want children.’ I’m like, don’t rule it out. It’s the most amazing love!”
To learn about the Knight Family join Gillian Sheridan for her “Children are a Gift” report, Tuesday night on CBS 19 Ten @ 10. You can also find information on East Texas children waiting to be adopted by going to CBS19.tv and tylerpaper.com. To inquire about a child call 903-533-4109.
With a hole in their hearts, the Knights turned to their faith. “As a believer, I don’t know if there is any other way to begin to heal except to trust in God,” said Christine.
“It’s hard sometimes to see His plan evolve, but He has a plan for our life. It’s changed me in many ways. My family comes first now,” said Jay.
It also changed them in ways they could never have imagined. Christine said, “What we’ve learned is that our hearts are really big and even in spite of a loss there’s room for others, which I really don’t think I could have foreseen. We were so happy and content with the first (adoption) and remarkably blessed with the second (adoption.) So, to think we would ever consider a third is really hard to believe.”
They are open to adopting again and are sharing their story in hopes of encouraging others to open their heart to children in need. Jay said, “Now when I hear people say ‘I don’t think we want children.’ I’m like, don’t rule it out. It’s the most amazing love!”
To learn about the Knight Family join Gillian Sheridan for her “Children are a Gift” report, Tuesday night on CBS 19 Ten @ 10. You can also find information on East Texas children waiting to be adopted by going to CBS19.tv and tylerpaper.com. To inquire about a child call 903-533-4109.
