Samantha’s story began with a fight for life. She arrived two months early, fragile and substance exposed. Her mom, who adopted her as a baby through Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, called her “my little miracle.” When Samantha was two months old, her mom brought her home from the hospital and into a life filled with love.
Her mom says Samantha has always been a blessing and believes God brought them together. From the very beginning, Samantha says, her mom was exactly who she needed.
“My mom has been everything to me. My saint. My rock. I truly believe she saved my life. I don’t know if I’d be here today if it weren’t for her.”
Like many kids, Samantha faced challenges growing up. In middle school, she carried a lot of sadness and anger, and sometimes that came out towards the person she loved most.
“I didn’t look like my mom, and people would make comments about it. I gave her a hard time, but she never gave up on me. She was my steady place in the world.”
High school brought a turning point. Her mom was involved in their church community, and Samantha was drawn in too. Volunteering became an outlet, a way to turn her energy into something good.
At 18, Samantha became curious about her biological family. With her mom’s full support, she began searching. She learned she had biological siblings, although her birth mother had passed away just one month before she reached out to her biological family.
“The best decision my birth mother ever made was choosing my mom for me.”
Life moved forward… college, marriage, a career in hospitality, then a divorce. Looking for a fresh start, Samantha moved to Nashville, but after a few years felt called back to Illinois.
Returning home also rekindled something else: her passion for adoption and a desire to give back to the place that had played an important role in her life. She reached out to LCFS, the organization that had connected her with her mom. Soon she joined the LCFS Harvest Fest Committee, which plans the October 24 dinner auction.
Now, she is part of making sure other children are supported in finding their forever families. At 34, Samantha has come full circle.
Mandy, LCFS Director of Events and Development, calls her “an absolute rockstar” who brings fresh ideas, new donations, and a heartfelt connection to the cause.
“LCFS is a light for so many children and families,” says Samantha. “They helped me find my mom, and now I get to help them do the same for others.”
Because of you, children like Samantha are cared for with love, support, and the chance to become the incredible people they were meant to be!