Feeling blessed on Mother’s Day
In the photo above, Jessica Wright of Fredericktown teaches her son, Levi Donald Wright, age 15 months, how to make animal noises as she reads to him from a children’s book and holds her other son, Owen Paul Wright, age 3 months. Wright had miscarriages in 2009 and 2010 and then became pregnant again, but their daughter, Lillian Grace, was stillborn at 26 weeks on Jan. 10, 2011. Wright and her husband, Eric, then decided to adopt Levi, and shortly after, gave birth to Owen. The boys are 11 1/2 months apart.
In the photo at right, Eric Wright pushes his son Levi as his wife, Jessica, holds their son Owen at their home in Fredericktown recently.
Amanda Steen|Herald-Standard
Levi Donald Wright, 15 months, watches for his father, Eric Wright, to return home from work recently.
Amanda Steen|
Herald-Standard
Amanda Steen|Herald-Standard
Eric Wright pushes his son Levi as his wife, Jessica Wright, holds their son Owen at their home in Fredericktown recently.
EAST BETHLEHEM TWP. — The Fredericktown home of Eric and Jessica Wright is filled with baby furniture, bottles and toys, as well as two little boys. And that’s the way they like it.
On Mother’s Day, the scene is particularly pleasing as the couple feels blessed after years of struggling to have a family of their own.
“We have two kids,” Jessica Wright said with a smile. “I never in a million years thought we would have two children. Last year was my first Mother’s Day and it was wonderful. And now we have two.”
Levi Donald Wright, age 15 months, and Owen Paul Wright, age 3 months, have taken over the house, not only with their baby items, but with their sweet smiles and individual personalities.
Blond and blue-eyed Levi enjoys walking, talking and climbing on everything. His favorite food is pizza and his favorite toy is a stuffed Tigger attached to a blanket. Dark-haired Owen moves his blue eyes about to take in everything while sucking on his Froggy pacifier. Both love to snuggle with their parents. Levi enjoys taking items out of his father’s pockets after greeting Eric Wright when he comes home from work.
“Levi is extremely active. He loves to investigate and see how things work,” said Jessica Wright. “Owen is very laid back and relaxed. He’s a happy, easy-going child.”
Eric Wright gladly accepts and returns Levi’s hugs, greeting Owen as well.
“It’s wonderful to be a family,” he said, “and to do things for Jes because of Mother’s Day.”
Jessica Wright, 33, is a native of Waynesburg who graduated Central Greene High School in 1998 before moving to Scenery Hill with her mother and stepfather, Bonnie and Paul Lindley. She earned an associate’s degree in architectural technology from Penn State University in 2001 and a bachelor’s degree in geographical information systems from California University of Pennsylvania in 2009. She is president of True Mapping Inc.
The son of Don and Mary Kay Wright, Eric Wright, 33, is a Republic native who graduated Brownsville Area High School in 1997. He earned an associate’s degree in electronics technology from Pennsylvania Technical Institute (PTI) and completed a five-year apprenticeship with the Local 449 Steamfitters Union. He is a service fitter with Siemen’s Industry.
The couple met in 2003 and married seven years ago. They found a comfortable home in the country and added two boxers, Rocco and Shelley, to the family just as they wanted. Children were also part of their dream for a happy future together.
“We knew before we got married. We knew when we met that we wanted at least two kids,” said Jessica Wright.
But achieving that family proved difficult. Jessica Wright had miscarriages in 2009 and 2010. She became pregnant again but their daughter, Lillian Grace, was stillborn at 26 weeks on Jan. 10, 2011.
It was their lowest point.
“It was the most challenging thing we’ve ever been through. You never think it would happen to you,” said Eric Wright. “But I never completely lost hope. It made our relationship better and we saw how good our family and friends were.”
“I think our faith carried us far,” said Jessica Wright. “We knew we were going to have a family. We just didn’t know the way. We just trusted that God had a plan for us and that it would work out.”
Six weeks after Lillian was stillborn, the couple learned during a doctor’s visit that blood work revealed Jessica Wright has a blood-clotting disorder called Factor V (5) Leiden. Jessica Wright said the disorder is more common than realized but that her disorder is considered more high risk because she inherited a gene from both her mother and her father while most people with the disorder carry only one gene.
“The doctors hypothesized that I had a blood clot and it cut off oxygen to Lillian,” she explained.
A few months later, the couple began trying to conceive again and Jessica Wright began taking blood thinners to combat the disorder, giving herself daily injections. But in September 2011, the couple was told by a new set of doctors that Jessica Wright had an immune disorder and had only a 10 percent chance of conceiving with treatment procedures and that it was not likely she would be able to carry a baby to term.
“After the news, it was a no brainer. We decided to adopt,” said Jessica Wright.
The couple applied for an adoption at the end of September 2011 and was notified in mid-January 2012 that their son Levi was expected to be born on Feb. 1. They had two weeks to prepare. His birthday was actually Feb. 11, 2012, born on a snowy day in an otherwise snow-less winter.
But the blessings were about to be multiplied when the couple found out three months later that Jessica Wright was pregnant. She had gone off the blood thinners after deciding to adopt but went back on after discovering she was pregnant. On Jan. 25, another snowy day, Owen was born.
After years of wanting a family, the Wrights had two boys 11 1/2 months apart.
“This is what we wanted,” said Eric Wright as Levi brought over a bag of snacks he pulled from a cupboard.
“One is a lot of work. Two is 12 times so much work because they’re so close in age,” said Jessica Wright. “But the hustle and bustle is going to be over soon, and we’re trying to enjoy every moment.”
As they talked, Levi walked around the living room playing with his toys, retrieving items from the kitchen and climbing on his father, while Owen watched contently. Levi is thrilled to be a big brother.
“He helps out — gets his brother his binky,” said Eric Wright.
“He’s the best big brother,” said Jessica Wright. “He shows nothing but affection.”
Grateful for their own family, the couple also reaches out to help others by sharing their story when they can, including serving as the 2013 ambassador family for the recently held Washington County March of Dimes. They have their own March for Babies family team called Lillian’s Legs for Life and are accepting donations until the end of May through the March of Dimes website. So far, they have raised $3,215.
This Mother’s Day, Jessica Wright said, “You really appreciate your mom a lot more when you’re a mom.”
Today, Eric Wright is treating Jessica Wright to a relaxing afternoon in a local spa with her friend Lori Steinhoff.
And then it’s back to the hustle and bustle as the couple enjoys life with their young sons.
Eric Wright said, “Our story is proof that anything is possible. Miracles do happen.”