Creating a Family of Her Own | My Member Story

Kelly Jo Doll is a very busy woman these days. After all, she went from living alone to being a mom raising two teenage girls in what seems like the blink of an eye!

A lifelong dream takes shape

Back in 2020, while weighing in on their plans for the year, Kelly Jo Doll and her friends talked about their various hopes and dreams. Vacations, exercise plans and healthy recipes were thrown into the discussion. One of her single friends brought up adoption and how she had started looking into the process. Knowing that Kelly Jo had grown up with three adopted brothers and had planned to adopt a child at some point after she was married, the friend said, “Why not do it now?”

Even though Kelly Jo had decades of experience with her own adopted siblings, she was unaware she could pursue adoption without a spouse in the picture. Since the marriage part hadn’t happened for her yet, she had just always put adoption on the back burner. Suddenly, this discussion with her friend brought it to the top of her list! Kelly Jo, who had always envisioned herself as a mother, decided to take the courageous step of initiating the process to welcome children into her life.

Focus on South Africa

Years ago, after hearing someone speak at her church about creating a baby safe in South Africa—a safe place where mothers could surrender their children—Kelly Jo felt a stirring in her soul. "God planted a little seed in my heart at that time," she recalled.

Later, in 2015, she got the opportunity to embark on a service trip to South Africa where she fell deeply in love with the country and its people. Little did she know, her connection to South Africa would soon deepen exponentially.

Kelly Jo formally applied to adopt from South Africa in February 2020, and two years later she was matched with sisters Selinah and Finah. Kelly Jo was now one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a mother, but she knew she still had a long way to go.

Good things take time

It took over a year, but Kelly Jo finally had an adoption date—September 2023. This was amazing news, but there were still obstacles to overcome. Before she and the girls could step onto a plane bound for the United States, Kelly Jo had to live in-country for four months. This meant she had to maintain two households for that whole time—not an easy feat!

In addition to getting to know Selinah and Finah, she spent most of that time wading through stacks of immigration approvals from multiple countries, obtaining new birth certificates and securing passports. Finally, it was time to go home.

It takes a village

One thing Kelly Jo learned is that international adoption is not cheap. She spearheaded several fundraising initiatives, including selling individual pieces of a 1000-piece puzzle for a donation. She would write the name of the sponsor on the back of each puzzle piece.

When it was all said and done, she realized there were 385 pieces that were sponsored by people she had no connection to—they donated just because they believed in what she was trying to accomplish. It was a testament to the power of community. As Kelly Jo’s eyes welled up with tears, she said, “It makes me cry every time I think about it.”

In addition, her parents have offered unwavering support from the very beginning. Now that the girls are in Utah, Kelly Jo’s parents love to lend a helping hand by carpooling and spending time with them whenever they can. And, thanks to her supervisor's support, Kelly Jo was able to adjust her work schedule to accommodate the demands of these two busy girls.

Although it's been an adjustment, Kelly Jo's strong support system has played a major part in helping the new family get used to the hustle and bustle of life in the United States.

Mountain America steps in

With the financial strain of not only the cost of an international adoption, but also the upcoming increased household bills, Kelly Jo found herself looking for ways to increase her monthly cash flow. As a Mountain America Credit Union member since 1996, she turned to us for assistance.

Kelly Jo thought refinancing her home seemed like a viable option, but her Mountain America guide, Vanessa, advised against giving up her low interest rate—which included a military discount.

Vanessa was determined to find an alternative option that would work for Kelly Jo without putting her budget in jeopardy down the road. She suggested a second mortgage. Together, they devised a plan that not only freed up more of Kelly Jo's income by reducing her debt but also ensured the stability needed for her growing family.

When the day finally arrived and the girls were officially adopted, Vanessa was just as excited about the joyful news as anyone in Kelly Jo’s family.

Life in Utah

Transitioning to life in the States has been a whirlwind for Selinah and Finah, who are astounded by the fast pace of American life, particularly the lightning-fast service of fast-food restaurants. When we asked them what the biggest adjustment has been, Finah said with a smile, “Not being able to play outside all the time because of the weather.”

Everything they encounter is a brand-new experience, from the academic structure of school to having pets indoors. While the girls are making a lot of changes as they learn the ways of living in the United States, Kelly Jo is making an effort to keep some of their cultural touchstones alive—including learning how to make a mean batch of pap, a porridge made of maize meal that is one of their favorite South African foods.

By the way, even though the girls are not used to having pets in the house, Kelly Jo’s two dogs, Pugaccino and Herbie the Love Pug, adore their new housemates!

Congratulations to the Doll family! We are overjoyed to have been a small cog in the wheel that brought you all together.