Waymart, Pennsylvania: In a deeply emotional account, 32-year-old Hannah Martin from Waymart, Pennsylvania, opened up about the heartbreaking decision to place both of her children for adoption due to severe financial difficulties. Reflecting on the experience, Martin described it as “traumatic” and “heartbreaking,” yet also “heartwarming” because it gave her children the chance to live a better life.
Now a stay-at-home mom to a 15-year-old son, an 8-year-old daughter, and a 6-year-old son, Martin’s journey began in 2011, when she was just 19 years old and unexpectedly pregnant with her daughter Adriana. After a brief and unplanned encounter with her brother’s friend, Martin discovered she was pregnant, even though she had been using birth control. The father of the child denied responsibility, leaving her without support.
Initially feeling both “excited but scared” upon discovering her pregnancy, Martin struggled to care for Adriana. After six weeks, she realized she couldn’t manage on her own. “I couldn’t do it,” she admitted. “The father refused to help me. He said it wasn’t his child.” Overwhelmed by the situation, she reached out for help and was connected with Maria, a lawyer from Miami, who became a pivotal support figure. Maria, who Martin describes as “another mother,” helped guide her through therapy and reassured her that placing Adriana for adoption was the right decision.
Years later, Martin faced a similar situation with her son Tyler and, once again, turned to Maria for assistance in finding a loving adoptive home. However, the decisions have continued to weigh heavily on her heart, and she admitted that she hasn’t had contact with either child since their adoption. She is uncertain if they even know about her.
Martin shared the emotional toll the experience has had on her mental health, revealing that she has struggled with depression throughout the years. “It was very hard. I went through a bad time because I have depression,” she said. “If I could change things, I would have kept them, but I was young, struggling, and didn’t know how to access the resources that could have helped us.”
Hannah’s story sheds light on the profound emotional impact of adoption decisions made under difficult circumstances, emphasizing the challenges many parents face when they don’t have the support they need to raise their children.
