How Adoption Changed My Life with Adele Koolen

"Trust God's plan, be patient in life when things don't work out right now, because there's a reason for that..."

In this captivating episode Adele Koolen shares the heartbreaking story behind the joy of finally finding the boy that went viral, her adopted son, Desmond "Desi" Koolen.

Adoption changed her life for the better, after 7 years of failed attempts to get pregnant, Adele Koolen says that she is happy it worked out this way.

"Our journey was meant to be this way, else we would never have found Desi... God's plan is always the best plan, even if it takes longer than we would like," says Adele.

Brought to you by Epi-Max Baby & Junior - Our Family, for Your Family. Sponsored by Curaprox and supported by Jacaranda FM.


ABOUT ADELE KOOLEN

Adele Koolen is a wife, mom, and digital entrepreneur whose path to motherhood was shaped by perseverance and love. After seven years and 23 failed fertility treatments, Adele stepped away from the dream of biological parenthood—but not from the dream of being a mom.

In 2018, she entered Mrs South Africa to break the silence around infertility and remind women that their worth isn’t tied to motherhood. That journey led her to Desmond—“Desi”—a little boy in care whose photo on his third birthday changed everything.

After a long and emotional adoption process, Desi officially became part of the Koolen family in December 2021. Today, he’s a vibrant 9-year-old known as the “I Feel Good Kid,” spreading joy, advocating for adoption, and cheering for the Springboks with all his heart.

Adele’s story is a testament to faith, resilience, and the belief that families are built by love—not biology.