Cerritos Couple Seeks to Add to Family Through Open Adoption

Written by Erika Maldonado

After two failed attempts with in vitro fertilization, Brian and Tiffany Iannessa knew adoption was the only way they were going to start a family. The procedures were not only costly; they were hard on Tiffany’s body. While exploring their options, they were offered an egg donor.

Tiffany gave birth to their “miracle baby” two years ago. Genetically, Madeline is only Brian’s, but Tiffany says it’s never been an issue for her. 

And now they want to add to their family, so seeking an open adoption so their red-headed toddler could have a sibling was a no brainer.

“People always ask where the red hair came from,” said Brian. “We always joke that the next child we adopt is going to look more like us than the one we carried.”

The couple has lived in Cerritos for most of their lives and knew it was where they wanted to raise their family. Tiffany, a former oral surgery nurse, is now a stay at home mom. When she isn’t running a local mom’s group she is networking all over the city in hopes of finding a right match. Their online profile through an independent adoption center gives birth mothers a chance to learn more about families who are seeking adoption.

‘It will happen organically,” said Tiffany. “Part of me wants this to happen fast so that they can grow up closer in age. But the right mom will come at the right time. It’s almost like internet dating, except we’re not looking at the mother’s, they’re looking for us.”

Open adoptions, unlike closed adoptions, allows for more transparency between the adopted child and its birth parents. It is the most widely practiced form of adoption in the nation., according to Adoptionhelp.org.

“I want them to know everything about their birth parent’s family to help them understand who they are and satisfy the need to know their identity,” said Brian. He saw his own mother struggle with her identity, who was adopted in a close adoption.

Tiffany sees it as a way of extending their family even more and was won over after hearing from several mothers who have gone through the process. The adoption can happen with a birth mother from anywhere in the U.S., but they’re hoping to be matched up with someone locally.

In June, the Iannessa's turned to the Cerritos-Artesia Patch announcement board to help spread word about their adoption search.

"Our family is hoping to add a second child to our lives through open adoption. If you know of anyone that might be a great match for our family please have them contact us...Thank you!," their post stated.

To learn more about the Iannessa family, visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/IannessaAdoption