Episode 184, A Mother’s Journey of Faith and Adoption with Jamie McAleer
Mrs. Jamie McAleer resides in North Carolina with her husband, Jack, and their three children—Lauren, Jennifer, and Alexander. However, their journey to parenthood wasn’t always easy.
Jamie and Jack were blessed with two daughters and longed to have more children. However, medical testing revealed that this would be highly unlikely. Through what Jamie describes as a series of “God-incidences,” they began a long and difficult journey that ultimately led them to adopt their son, Alexander, from a Russian orphanage. She recounts this remarkable story in her book, I Will Come to You, available at EWTNRC.com and SophiaInstitute.com.
Starting a family
Jamie met Jack while attending Auburn University. It was, as she fondly recalls, “love at first sight,” and the two eventually married. Jamie had been raised Lutheran and, by her own admission, was not deeply active in her faith. God was not a daily presence in her life. Jack, on the other hand, came from a large and devout Catholic family. Jamie was drawn to the warmth, unity, and joyful chaos of his family life—a witness that would later influence her own spiritual journey.
The couple married in 1981, and while Jack was occupied with building the family business of a Krispy Kreme donut shop alongside his brother Mac, they were blessed with two beautiful daughters. Jamie recalls one memorable radio interview in Indianapolis that helped propel Krispy Kreme’s success during those busy years.
The path to adoption
As the girls grew, Jamie continued to hope for more children. Yet after a series of medical tests, she was told that conceiving again would be nearly impossible. Though deeply saddened, she chose to accept this cross as God’s will. Not long afterward, she came across an article in their diocesan newspaper about adopting children from Russia. That evening, she mentioned it to Jack, who immediately supported the idea. Some family members encouraged them, while others counseled caution, suggesting they should be content with the two children they already had.
Determined to follow where God was leading, Jamie contacted Catholic Social Services. After a thorough home study and much paperwork—complicated by frequent delays and lost immigration documents—the adoption was finally approved.
One day, the McAleers received a photo of a little boy named Alexander. “Our hearts melted,” Jamie said. They sent him a teddy bear, and were later told that Alexander proudly told the other children, “My mommy and daddy sent this to me.”
During the long and emotional process, Jamie endured many trials and moments of uncertainty. One day, her mother-in-law gave her a prayer card with a prayer to the Blessed Mother. It was then that Jamie realized she needed to surrender everything to Our Lady, trusting Mary, the Mother of God, to intercede for their family.
Eventually, the entire family traveled to Moscow to bring Alexander home. Today, he is 35 years old, married and thriving.
Jamie shares her story not only to inspire faith and perseverance but also to encourage women facing difficult pregnancies. “Please consider adoption,” she urges, “as a far better and more loving alternative to abortion. Every child is a precious gift from God.”
