SMALL MIRACLE

At the conclusion of their first date in 2008, Dr. Scott Wehrly and Talia Ivison openly shared their ambitions.

“He told me he wanted to get married but didn’t want children,” Talia says. “I told him I wanted children but didn’t want to get married.”

It’s funny how things change when you fall in love. They married in March 2010 and made the decision to raise a child together. Since that time, the Tavares couple has experienced a remarkable journey that has taken them through the indescribable frustration of infertility to the wonderful joy of parenthood. They’ve provided a loving home for their 2-year-old daughter, Zoë, and in return she has filled their hearts with love and happiness.

“I named her Zoë because in Greek, Zoë means life,” says Scott, an ophthalmologist at Lake Eye Associates. “Certainly, she has added so much life to our home and has brought Talia and me closer.”

A LIFELONG, LOVING HOME

Although Scott already had two teenagers from a previous marriage, Talia dreamed about being able to birth her first child. Her excitement was quickly dampened after realizing she and her husband could not conceive naturally. As a result, she underwent four cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process where sperm is injected into a woman’s egg and the egg is implanted back into the woman. On the first cycle, Talia became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. After failing to become pregnant on the second and third cycles, Talia developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome during the fourth cycle, which forced her to quit.

“I was 29 and felt becoming pregnant would be easy for me,” says Talia. “Needless to say, I felt like I failed because I could not do something that should be natural for a woman my age. Many of my friends were pregnant at that time, and that was hard on me.”

Scott’s then-18-year-old daughter, Caitlin, encouraged them to consider adoption. The couple began attending adoption seminars, and after countless hours of research, Talia discovered an attorney in Winter Park who matches birth parents and adoptive parents. It just so happened the attorney was representing an 18-year-old Orlando girl who was six months pregnant and had chosen to put her baby up for adoption.

“After talking to the attorney on the phone for the first time, I drove to her office that day and gave her our 10-page adoption profile book,” Talia says.

I am thankful for…

my family and friends.

— JANELLE WOODYARD being able to walk on my own two years after my stroke.

— BETTY ARAMINO my family and good health.

— TIM SULLIVAN a vibrant community to call home.

— JEAN PAUL GALBREATH

Leesburg.

— ELIZABETH KNOWLES two things that go hand in hand: my faith and my family.

— JANET GALBREATH being a part of Bella Faire. It’s a pleasure to work in the community.

— AGNES BERRY

“The birth mom was choosing between five families.”

In May 2011, the Wehrlys met the pregnant teenager, Mary, and her boyfriend at a restaurant in Orlando. “They asked us many questions that night,” Talia explains. “Then one week later on Mother’s Day, Mary sent me a text message that read, ‘Congratulations, you’re a mom!’ I was so excited. Even though Mary wasn’t going to have the baby for three more months, I went to all her doctor appointments.”

On August 10, 2011, Zoë was born at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando. “I realized right then that carrying a baby for nine months doesn’t make you a great mom,” says Talia. “Spending a lifetime with a child is what makes you a great mom. Scott and I felt an instant bond with Zoë the minute we held and kissed her.”

Today, Zoë is a beautiful two year old with brown eyes and strawberry-blond hair. She attends a Montessori school in Mount Dora where Talia serves as the class mom. Recently, when the family threw a big birthday bash for Zoë, Talia invited Mary and her parents to attend.

“I love Mary and consider her part of my family. I always text message her photographs of Zoë. Mary gave Zoë the greatest gift you could give a child — the gift of life and love. Also, I thank my husband every day for allowing us to have Zoë. He already had two teenage children, so having a baby and starting a new chapter in his life at age 48 was a big step.” my family moving here and for the community that has taken us in so kindly.

— VONDA PARKER good health, great children, and wonderful grandchildren.

— SYLVIA GORDON being able to promote healthy living to others.

— STEPHANIE BASSETT being able to share health tips with my patients.

— KYLIE GUMM my husband, who is my forever friend.

— CANDACE HUBER my family, the most important thing.

— JUDI DECKER my family and my job.

— LISSETTE FERNSTROM my wonderful job, especially in this economy.

— TRICIA GUIDO the health of my family.

— MINDY BUTLER my eight kids and lots of grandkids and friends.

— BEA BOYCE a life that has been super the whole way through.

— GERALDINE MILES all of God’s blessings.

— WARREN LITAVSKY