A twin herself, Lisa Crawford Watson believes she has the insight required to mother twins. When infant twins in need of a permanent, stable home come into her life, she falls in love with them and knows what she must do. Mounting obstacles impede the adoption process, and she examines whether such setbacks are signs that she shouldn’t adopt.

Determined not to give up, Lisa overcomes her doubts and adopts the sisters out of foster care. However, she faces one hardship after another and quickly learns that raising premature drug- and alcohol-exposed babies is a feat of sacrifice and unpredictability. Over the years, the twins wreak havoc on every relationship within the family and on Lisa’s heart. Has adopting the twins done more harm than good?

What We Wished For: An Adoption Story shares a woman’s quest to build a loving family. It is a tale of courage, perseverance, and what remains when things don’t go as imagined. This memoir speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with a life-altering decision, one from which there is no turning back.

Donna Rawlins