Air Force officer completes family

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katherine Holt
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Curtis Craig Henderson was born April 9, 2013 in a Fayetteville, Ark., hospital.

He would not meet his new parents until almost 12 hours after he was born.

Maj. Bradley Henderson, Air Force Global Strike Command Judge Advocate office, and Janae Henderson, left their home on base the minute they heard the news. Their son would be arriving five days before his scheduled due date.

They waited two years for this day.

"We were elated," said Henderson. "We were just so taken with him, and now he's our little boy."

Henderson and Janae decided to adopt a child two years ago after they were unable to conceive after their second child was born.

"We talked about adoption when we were first married," said Janae. "After we weren't able to get pregnant, we decided we were going to try to adopt."

After working with a family service to get qualified to adopt, the Hendersons were put in contact with a couple who adopted a child through a small adoption agency that works mostly with birth parents who migrated from the Marshall Islands.

"That is who we used to adopt Curtis," said Henderson.

Late February they were informed that they were selected by a birth mother.

"When we found out the birth mother chose us we were both excited and a little guarded," said Henderson. "We heard so many stories of birth mothers changing their minds."

They were given the news that the birth mother was in labor around 8 p.m. and arrived in Fayetteville at 3 a.m. April 10. They held their son a few hours later.

"Since we had spent time with the birth mother and father before this, it was easy walking into labor and delivery," said Henderson.

Curtis was released to the Hendersons less than 24 hours after he was born and the judge signed the decree less than a week later. For Henderson, this wasn't what finalized the adoption for him.

"Legally, the process was finalized when the judge signed the decree," he said. "But in reality, when the birth mother handed us her little boy and told us she was happy we would raise him. That was sacred. That's when it was final."

Curtis' birth parents were born and raised on Majuo Atoll, Marshall Islands, but moved to Fayetteville which has the largest patriot group of Marshallese in the world. The Henderson family plans to keep Curtis educated on his culture.

"We spent time with the birth parents," said Janae. "We discussed their culture, holidays and how they celebrate."

There is also a reunion held annually in Northwest Arkansas for families who have adopted Marshallese children which the Henderson family plans to attend.

Henderson and Janae's older children, Mariela, 10, and Teamon, 8, are adjusting to the new addition well.

"They are older and more aware," said Janae. "Mariela is very hands on. She loves holding him and feeding him. Seeing them interact with their new brother has been really sweet. It has been really special for us."

Henderson said their parents were their biggest supporters during the two-year process.

"Each one helped us navigate the process," he said. "Whether it was networking to find the right adoption agency or talking us through the emotions or coming out to watch the kids while we were gone or helping out when Curtis first came home, they were here to support us."

Henderson also received great support from his Air Force family.

"They were great," he said. "When I needed time off my colonel let me go. In fact, when the birth mother went into labor a week earlier than expected I just ran over to my colonel's house and told him I was heading out to Arkansas."

His coworkers even helped with taking care of their children so they could leave.

"I called another colleague and she took my two older children for the next 36 hours until my father arrived - Majors Mike and Michelle Suberly are awesome," said Henderson. "Also, my dad is not military, so my section made sure he had base access and any other help he needed to take care of things while we were away. My military family made things a lot easier."

Henderson said the hardest part about adopting as a military family was the change in addresses and the potential to deploy during the process.

"We moved in the middle of the process and had to start over," he said. "Also, there was always the worry I'd deploy in the middle of the process and derail the adoption. Luckily, that didn't happen."

Henderson says military families should be patient with the adoption process.

"Explain military life to your adoption agency if they don't understand," he said. "If you have to travel for the adoption, use the permissive [temporary duty] the Air Force gives you. Save your leave for when you get home."

For military members looking to adopt like the Henderson family, the Air Force has a program to assist with expenses.

Through the Adoption Expense Reimbursement Program, parents using a legal adoption agency may be eligible for up to $2,000 per adoptive child, with a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 in a calendar year, for qualifying expenses.

For more information on the Adoption Expense Reimbursement Program, visit the Force Support Squadron or call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102.