The O’Reagans Miracle Baby
Published: November 30, 2005
A New Orleans family that was forced to flee Hurricane Katrina is counting its blessings. The monster storm may have destroyed part of their home but, as CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports for The Early Show, it also brought a tiny miracle into their lives.
The O’Reagans had been waiting to adopt a second child for more than two years but, when Katrina threatened New Orleans, their dreams of a new baby were replaced by the reality of a killer storm.
“I evacuated myself, my 3-year-old, three dogs and two cats in the middle of the night. So, as far as the adoption, I figured tomorrow is another day,” says Michelle O’Reagan.
Fleeing to Houston, Michelle was on her own as her husband Ryan was in Africa working for Chevron.
“I had so many other things to worry about. I was thinking of loved ones and, you know, not thinking about the future beyond just getting home,” says Michelle.
But then, a coincidence happened in her hotel near the Houston Astrodome. Michelle ran into Danna Cousins, her social worker from the New Orleans adoption agency. [The Complete Adoption Book: Everything You Need to Know to Adopt a Child]
“I was on the phone with someone from work and I said, ‘You’re not going to believe who is at this hotel. Michelle O’Reagan is walking towards me right now,’ ” Danna says.
“I said, ‘Hey, if you get a baby, at least you know where we are,’ ” says Michelle.
She had no idea that Danna was keeping a big secret. Somewhere in New Orleans was a pregnant young woman who had already decided before the storm that the O’Reagans were the perfect family to adopt her baby. Danna didn’t have the time to tell them and then Katrina hit and the birth mom disappeared.
“We knew what the pictures looked like. We had no idea where she was, where she evacuated, where she might be,” Danna says.
But then another coincidence happened. Danna ran into a Houston social worker who said she had met a pregnant evacuee looking for a family just like the O’Reagans.
It turns out Danna, the O’Reagans and the birthmother had all evacuated to Houston.
They all met and sealed the baby’s future. Megan was born in New Orleans after everyone returned home. Four weeks ago, she came home to a mom who calls her a miracle, and a new big sister. [Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew]
“She’s home. She found us,” says Michelle.
Danna says baby Megan found her place in a city that’s hurting.
“I tell the story over and over and over because I feel like it’s what people need to hear,” she says. “They need to hear that some positive things did come from Hurricane Katrina. Katrina blew her in. She blew everything else away. She blew Megan in.”
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