Every now and then, you hear a story that’s equal parts pain and joy, weakness and strength, fear and bravery, despair and hope. This is the poignant story of the Weir Davis’ family.
“The best things in life are worth waiting for.” And it couldn’t be truer than for Scott and Katherine Weir-Davis.
After eleven years of marriage, Britons Katherine and Scott Weir-Davis decided that they were ready to embrace parenthood. But life had other plans for the couple, who were living and working in Spain at the time. Five years and eight unsuccessful IVF cycles later, they decided that adoption was their only hope of becoming parents. On paper, China seemed like a viable and quick option. They were told that the process would take about nine months. But months turned to years and they were still waiting. “We were a British couple, living in Spain, wanting to adopt from China. It was very complicated. I was getting ill from all the IVF treatments and it was both an emotional and physical rollercoaster,” recalls Katherine.
After being told it would be at least another two years before they received a baby they made up their minds. They would head to China, spend a year learning the culture and language and then return to Spain to receive a baby. However, after settling into life in Guangzhou, they quickly realised that they would like to stay for more than one year. But again, life was about to throw them another curve ball. “Once we had made the decision to stay in Guangzhou, we were told that we had to transfer our adoption application to a local agency. This further complicated our case. All we wanted was a baby to call our own.” By now, it had been several years and the Weir-Davis’ were exhausted. With nothing to lose, they travelled to the adoption headquarters of the CCAA in Beijing, for answers.
6 weeks after that fateful trip to Beijing, they got a call. A 14-month old baby girl had been matched to them. Abandoned by her birth mother at just ten days old, she was at the Huazhou Social Welfare Centre. They were ecstatic; they were finally going to be parents. Scott remembers the moment they first laid eyes on her. “We had already decided that we were going to name her Rosie. In the first picture that the agency sent us, she was propped up on a cushion strewn with little roses. It was a sign and immediately, we were in love. Rosie was already ours in our hearts.”
Six weeks later, on 30th May 2011, they finally became parents. “When we saw her for the first time, we couldn’t believe it. The moment she was placed in our arms, we knew we were complete. I also realized that I didn't need to give birth to a child to be a mum,” says Katherine. It was the culmination of an incredibly long journey for the Weir-Davis’ and the start of a beautiful family life.
The couple, who still call Guangzhou home, say that they have no current plans of leaving. Katherine is the Head of Lower School at The British School of Guangzhou and Scott works in export sales.
A proud mother, Katherine lights up when she talks about Rosie. “She’s so inquisitive, so full of life. But of course, the questions are inevitable. She often talks about ‘being away’ as a baby, as if she knows that she’s adopted. But she’s just four years old. She’s our baby. She is everything that we have ever wanted and more, and we will do everything possible as her parents to protect and love her for the rest of our lives...”
