THEA for the Culbert family — TN
Hello, we are the Culbert family; our family consists of myself (Heather), my daughter Emma, and our pets Blue, Winnie, and Tonks (one dog and two cats). In 2021, the universe put it on my heart to adopt a little girl with Down syndrome from Bulgaria. I was blessed to have been matched with Emma, who came home in February 2023. She has been such a joy and bright light in everyone’s lives! She doesn’t know a stranger and loves freely!
In 2024 there was heaviness on my heart to adopt again, but this time it was for a waiting child who had multiple special needs and medical needs, formerly known as “Beverly#” on RR, who I lovingly named Leah and nicknamed Ladybug. Unfortunately, we suffered the heartbreaking loss of my sweet “Ladybug” who passed away before I got to bring her home to join our family. Navigating such a tremendous loss has been a difficult journey of learning my own strength and depths of my heart I didn’t know were there until the pain of losing a child reached it. Losing Leah stirred a fire and determination within me to work even harder to bring a child home to our family that needed a similar level of medical care and attention; to be given the chance of knowing the love, care and adoration of a forever family that our sweet Leah never got to experience. We were on the traditional route waiting for a referral of whomever that sweet little one would be….
Then came Thea# unexpectedly; her sweet little face lit up my laptop screen and I began to weep because I KNEW she was meant to join our little family. She has already become an integral part of our daily family life and she isn’t even home yet. We are working hard every single day (updating paperwork, locating adaptive seating options and equipment, learning about her medical needs, etc) to bring her home as soon as possible!
She is already SO very loved, not only by us, our extended family, and close family friends, but also by our extended “family” of other adoptive parents who have prayed for her, inquired about her, advocated for her and simply loved her over the years!
As a single mama my hands and heart will be so full of love for my two girls, but with the support of our family and friends (and online “Aunties and Uncles”), we will make sure these girls have the fullest lives possible!
7/6/2026 — DOSSIER SUBMITTED, MATCHED!
The Culbert family has met their $5000 Matching Grant from Reece’s Rainbow!
