‘Brothers beyond blood’: family shares unique adoption story

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — It is Adoption Awareness Month, and one Bowling Green family has an adoption story unlike any other.

Monica Poynter and Josh Poynter are parents of three children, one of whom is their recent newborn, Ophelia. Their other two kids are Tag and Trey, both of which have a very interesting backstory.

Tag was born with Hemophilia A, a rare bleeding disorder where the blood does not clot properly and can lead to internal bleeding spontaneously as well as after an injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hemophilia A affects one in 5,000 male births, and the bleeding can lead to joint diseases and chronic pain.

“I remember going to the doctor and I said ‘How long is he going to have to take medicine for?’ And when he said his entire life, I fell apart,” Monica said. “You have this idea that your child is genetically perfect. And then, you know, everything you knew had changed.”

It was a shock for the parents. They took trips to the hospitals throughout his childhood, even spending his first birthday in the hospital to treat a bleed.

Later on, Monica and Josh were eager to adopt, and had read about another child from China who also had Hemophilia A.

“We thought it would be a bond for the boys to have such a rare bleeding disorder,” Josh shared.

That child, Trey, was ready to be adopted in China. So in 2020, the family went over to adopt him right before China shut down because of COVID-19.

“He had this huge smile on his face, despite him holding onto a rail. He just had this big smile, despite the pain, and I was like, ‘Okay, let’s do this,’” Monica remembered.

The family picked up Trey and welcomed him with open arms. 

“I was really surprised, and excited, to go on a long journey to find my brother,” Tag said.

Now, both boys go to the same school. The two created an instant bond, despite Trey not knowing English initially. 

“He didn’t speak any English,” Monica explained. “Watching the boys play, you would’ve never known, or that they didn’t speak the same language. They would play, they would laugh, they would run around the backyard. They would look like they were just talking.”

Both played extensively on the trampoline and rode their bikes together in their front yard.

They also have their own passions outside of their brotherhood. Since Hemophilia A causes their bodies to be sensitive to most sports, they pursued their hobbies elsewhere.

Tag spends his time playing the guitar. Trey plays the piano in the house’s basement. One of his favorites is “Ophelia” by the Lumineers, which he uses as a tribute to his younger sister.

Although their blood isn’t related, their bond and love for each is the finest example of brotherhood.