Cydil Waggoner Photography for The Sparrow Fund

I “met” Cydil several months ago when we featured a piece she wrote on We Are Grafted In about her sweet little ones Ellie and Reni, both whom they adopted from Albania. What a neat family they are–so wish KY was just closer to PA, you know? 

Cydil contacted me, eager to partner with The Sparrow Fund this May, and we’re so thankful that she did.

Since becoming a mom to Ellie and Reni, her subjects have become much younger in age! While she still loves photographing weddings, she finds the most fulfillment in photographing families formed through adoption. A partnership with our family’s pediatrician (an international adoption specialist) has blessed her with the opportunity to meet many wonderful adoptive families in central Kentucky whose children’s portraits now grace the office’s walls.

Cydil recognizes the need for grants from The Sparrow Fund for preadoption support and medical reviews. She told me —

This can be the most confusing, challenging, and emotional of all parts of the international adoption process. We know this because just 1 year ago my husband and I were unexpectedly presented with the possibility of adopting a special needs child from Albania. That child was born without legs below his femurs, for reasons unknown. Over the course of several days, we did lots of research and consulted with our wonderful pediatrician and adoption specialist, Dr. Taylor (at ACT Pediatrics), before ultimately choosing to pursue this little boy’s adoption. We are so glad we did! The medical review process alleviated some of our fears and prepared us for some issues we might face down the road raising the baby who would become our son. . . . We know that medical reviews can provide a lot of clarity for families as they prepare to open their home to another. 

That’s why we feel so strongly about the work of The Sparrow Fund, because of families’ experiences like Cydil’s. Special needs adoption or nonspecial needs adoption–these services can bring so much clarity and support to families as they prepare to bring a child from another country into their family.

Visit Cydil’s website and her photography blog, go check out her personal blog to learn about their life as an adoptive family, encourage her and thank her for support The Sparrow Fund in our efforts to build the nest this May. And, if you know of anyone in the Lexington general area, encourage them to contact her for some amazing pictures.

Please go see all the shops supporting The Sparrow Fund this month by clicking on the button below