Episode 229: Donna Pope and Bonnie Hilton -- Building a Family Four Different Ways

Bonnie Hilton. Bonnie Hilton is a licensed clinical social worker, adoption professional, author, and mother of nine. She and her husband, Brett, have been married for 34 years and live in South Jordan, Utah. Bonnie is passionate about helping children thrive in forever families and currently serves as CEO of Hand In Hand International Adoptions. An Angels in Adoption award recipient and author of Gathering Israel’s Children, Bonnie especially loves supporting adoptive families. Outside of work, she enjoys family time, writing, playing the piano, and sports.Donna Pope. Donna Pope stands as a cornerstone figure in the adoption community, bringing over 25 years of dedicated service as Executive Director of Heart To Heart Adoptions. Under her leadership, the agency has grown into one of the most respected domestic adoption organizations in the United States, built on a foundation of ethical practices and genuine care for all members of the adoption triad. Her influence extends beyond her agency work through significant leadership roles, including serving as Chairman for the Committee for Ethical Practices in Utah Adoption Agencies and holding a position on the Utah Adoption Council's Governing Board. Her diverse professional background spans healthcare and education, allowing her to address the complex emotional and psychological aspects of adoption. As a person of faith, Donna approaches adoption work through a spiritual lens, recognizing the sacred nature of family creation and the eternal bonds that connect families. This perspective informs her compassionate approach to supporting individuals and families throughout their adoption journey. Donna shares her expertise and passion through four adoption-focused podcasts, creating accessible platforms for education and support within the adoption community. Her latest endeavor, Adoptions.com, represents her vision for creating a comprehensive resource hub that connects and supports all members of the adoption community. Throughout her career, Donna has maintained her commitment to ethical practices while advocating for the needs of birth parents, adoptive families, and adoptees. Her work reflects a deep understanding that adoption is not just a legal process, but a life-changing journey that deserves thoughtful guidance and unwavering support.Listen as Donna and Bonnie share with Ellen and Jenn:How Heart to Heart began, including Donna’s personal story adopting three sons.Bonnie’s powerful personal story, learning as a teenager that she was born without a uterus, navigating infertility through dating and early marriage, and then receiving an unexpected offer from a woman in her church.The realities of early IVF and surrogacy, including a high-risk quadruplet pregnancy, the difficult decisions around selective reduction, and the profound grief and love that followed when the babies were born extremely premature. Continued family growth through domestic and international adoption—including adopting children from Ukraine.The tender, life-changing experience of adopting a medically fragile newborn who only lived two weeks, but was deeply loved.Exploring bigger questions surrounding paths to parenthood, including why international adoption has dramatically declined, how regulation (even when well-intentioned) can create unintended barriers, and why access, cost, and legal uncertainty continue to shape the future of both adoption and surrogacy.Their upcoming nonprofit platform, Adoptions.com, designed to connect adoptive families, biological families, adoptees, and service providers—creating community, support groups, educational resources, and a matching-style “connection engine” to help people find the services they need.Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.Listen to Voices of Adoption: voicesofadoption.podup.comLearn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/