Adoptive Parents Open Closed Adoption, Welcome Birth Mom In

At 20 years old, Schauna Austin made one of the hardest decisions of her life. Knowing she wasn't ready to raise a child, she placed her newborn son Riley for adoption and spent every moment of their final 72 hours together holding him close.

The baby went to Chris and Jennifer Schoebinger through a closed adoption, which meant Austin wouldn't receive any updates about her son. They renamed him Steven and began their life as a new family.

But just one week later, the Schoebingers made a choice that would change everyone's lives. They decided to open the adoption and invite Austin to be part of Steven's journey.

"You can't have too many people loving you, right?" Chris told CBS News. "Why couldn't he be both of ours?"

The decision wasn't common in Utah, where 95% of adoptions include some contact between birth and adoptive parents, but closed adoptions still happen. The Schoebingers simply felt it was the right thing to do.

Every year, they sent Austin detailed photo books titled "The Life and Times of Riley," honoring her son's original name. The journals included pictures, milestones, and even lists of new words Steven learned each year.

When Steven turned seven, he was ready to meet Austin in person. She taught him to fish, and their relationship has flourished ever since.

"I kind of got the best of both worlds," Steven said about having both sets of parents in his life. Austin agreed, calling herself "blessed beyond words."

Sunny's Take

Now 28, Steven recently had his first child with his wife Kayla. They named their son Riley, bringing the name full circle and making Austin a grandmother.

Chris shared the news on social media with pure joy. "Welcome, Riley. You don't know me yet, but our home will always be your home," he wrote.

The story resonates with research showing 84% of adoptees report high satisfaction when maintaining contact with birth parents. Steven's family proves that opening hearts creates more love, not complications.

Chris summed it up perfectly: "Sometimes we create barriers where barriers don't need to be. And when we pull down those barriers, we really find love on the other side."