A Lockport couple is going above and beyond to get a Colombia baby with Down syndrome to Buffalo to become part of their family. The amazing part is, the couple has never met 1-year-old baby boy, AJ, they’ve only seen a photo and immediately knew he was meant to be theirs.
“We fight and pray for our beautiful baby boy every single day,” said Caitlin Kurtz.
Caitlin and her husband, Alex, have been together for 10 years and married for five. They’ve know each other since elementary school and rode the school bus together. They went on a date after high school and have been inseparable ever since. Caitlin is a first grade teacher in Buffalo and Alex is a welder. They both knew they wanted a family, but their hearts were calling them somewhere else. Caitlin and Alex can have kids of their own, but when Caitlin expressed her feelings for adoption, Alex was 100 percent on board.
“He’s the kindest man I’ve ever known,” said Caitlin. “He has always stood by my passions even when they sound like pure madness.
Sadly, Caitlin was diagnosed with Lupus shortly after their decision, but she knew she couldn’t let it stop her from pursuing.
“Afterwards I never knew when the time was right. I prayed to God every night to guide me in the right path. To lead me to a child who needed me more than anyone else in this world,” she said.
And then after going to dinner one night, a miracle happened. Caitlin ran into an old friend who had a baby with her…a baby who she adopted from Colombia.
“I looked up and there she was holding this precious little man, with his little blue glasses and denim overalls. My heart sank and I just grabbed him to snuggle. I remember tearing up in that moment. I told her to keep me updated as she knew I was interested in adopting. She told me she was fundraising for another little boy in Colombia who was a year old with Down syndrome. I didn’t think much of it, but we exchanged numbers so I could see his photo.”
And that’s how Caitlin and Alex were introduced to baby AJ with a photo that would change their lives forever.
“As soon as my phone went off and I saw him, again I teared right up. Alex said, no…I know that look, Caitlin. But he was smiling just as big. Needless to say, that’s how we were introduced to this baby boy. I went home and continued to pray. I prayed hard and I prayed a lot. By the end of the week, he was already ours.”
However, adopting a Colombia baby is not an easy process. It’s very expensive at a cost of $30,000 so a benefit to bring AJ home will be held 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at Olcott Fire Company, 1691 Lockport Olcott Road, Burt. Admission is $10 and includes pizza, pop, and snacks, baked goods, basket raffles, big ticket items, and fun. There will also be a cash bar! A fundraising page has also been created for those who cannot attend the benefit. More information can be found here.
“I pray that somehow he knows how loved and valued he is and that we are coming. My life has already changed for the better and our boy isn’t even here.”
