Kind stranger on an aeroplane adopts distressed woman's baby
At the age of 24, Samantha Snipes found out that she was pregnant. Initially excited with the news, she also feared for the future. Her boyfriend at the time abusive, and she needed to leave him.
"I remember everyone telling me I just needed to leave him without letting him know my plan," she told Love What Matters. "That advice stayed with me and the urgency to leave suddenly struck me the day he pushed me on the bed with both of his hands around my neck trying to strike the fear of GOD in me I guess.
"It worked. I was scared. I was 3 months pregnant with this man’s child and feared him. I left that night and never looked back."
She moved in with her mother and her girlfriend in Arkansas, feeling confused and uncertain.
"I felt completely disconnected and lost. I didn't feel worthy of bringing a child into this world or trying to care for him or her when I was still trying to learn how to love myself again."
Realising that her mother's house wasn't suitable for a baby, she still felt that it was her only option.
"As the pregnancy went on, I grew more and more depressed. It got to the point where I didn't ever want to leave my bed. I began to get this feeling as if I no longer had a choice as to where my child would end up and that my only option was my mother."
Looking for an escape, she lost herself in the world of online gaming. There she met a man with whom she had an instant connection. He lived in North Carolina, so at 8 months pregnant, she flew to visit him.
"The ‘light’ at the end of the tunnel wasn't apparent to me, but unknowingly, I set in motion a chain of events that would eventually secure the future of my child, and still allow me to see him grow up.
"Talking to a certain guy began the uniquely designed road for my life’s travel."
She missed her flight and was put on standby, but it was density. She sat next to "very friendly and bubbly" lady who she laughed and bounded with.
"I had learned from her that she had always wanted children but for various reasons the opportunity never presented itself. Throughout the flight we laughed and bonded. After we exited the plane she even went to the bathroom with me to help fix my makeup and reassure me about seeing my new boyfriend.
"She was such a great person; she waited with me to make sure I was safe. She knew I didn't know anyone else in the area and before we parted ways, she gave me her number. She told me to call should I ever find myself in trouble, in need of anything or if I wanted to talk more about adoption."
Only three days into the visit Samantha started having contractions, after being rushed to a local hospital, she gave birth to healthy 6 pound baby boy.
Away from home and dreading giving the baby to her mother, she had a brainwave. She called the friendly woman, Temple, from the plane.
"After Temple got there, I had asked if she wanted to feed my son. She excitedly accepted. She was so nervous, she shook a little as she raised the bottle to his mouth. I watch as she fed him, bonded with him. They were happy to meet one another. They were smiling back at each other as they spent time together."
Seeing Temple with the baby made Samantha realise the light at the end of the tunnel. She asked her if she wanted to adopt the baby.
"She was caught so off-guard. She was in disbelief that I even asked her, a stranger, but a stranger that felt more like family to me than anyone. After the shock wore off, Temple accepted my offer. We were full of emotion, crying in happiness."
With the legalities quickly taken care of, Temple helped Samantha set up a new life in North Carolina. Eventually, she moved in with her boyfriend and have been happily together for two years.
The two mothers have remained close friends, and even work together. Samantha sees the baby, Vaughan, regularly and is now setting up a photography business.
She is grateful that even when things seemed at their worst, they had a way of working themselves out for the best.
"I want everyone to know that even though the walls may feel as if they are closing in on you, if you just trust your heart and have FAITH, it will get better. I have met a love, as well as meeting a once in a lifetime friend. I couldn't be happier!”