Local couples turn to crowdfunding for adoption fees

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Tiffany and Willie Bell have their baby room all picked out and baby names too. But the Spring couple is missing one thing.

"Here's another month and I'm still not pregnant," Tiffany said.

The couple met at Yates High School in Houston and they've been married for four years. Throughout their marriage, they have dealt with several miscarriages.

"A lot of the process can be very painful, other things I had to go through with no baby in the end," Tiffany said.

Tiffany discovered that she suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome which affects fertility.

"It was hard on us both because we wanted to have a baby," Willie said.

In Vitro Fertilization wiped out the Bell's savings, but they want to try one last time. If it doesn't work, they hope to adopt.

"I've always known that that's my gift to nurture, to teach, and I just want one of my own to be able to do that with," Tiffany said.

But it is expensive, especially on Tiffany's teacher salary. They've turned to crowdfunding, an online fundraising campaign, to raise $18,000. They started a Go Fund Me site to help reach their goal.

Another local couple has raised more than $16,000 on the same site for their adoption. Katie and Daniel Campbell, a music teacher and nurse from Sugar Land, were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they received.

"It's really awkward to say please give us money that type of thing it's really vulnerable, really humbling. It's really impressive. We have some amazingly generous friends," they said.

They already have 3-year-old Liam, but because of severe health risks, Katie Campbell cannot have more children. But after four years of marriage, they still dream of having a brother or sister for Liam.

"It was a really, really tough experience, really emotional. I went through a depression, feeling inadequate, feeling broken," Katie said.

A friend who wanted to remain anonymous donated $5,000 to help the Campbells adopt.

"It's a beautiful to thing to see them want to get involved in our lives. And to bless not just us, but a child too," Daniel said.

Both couples are hoping to adopt in the next year or so, if they can raise enough money. Fundraising online is being used for a number of financial reasons...including medical costs during breast cancer. Some sites also charge a small fee for each donation that is received.

Anyone can donate. Just visit each of their pages:

- The Bell Family's Go Fund Me page

- The Campbell Family's Go Fund Me page