When Schauna Austin became pregnant at 20, she made the courageous decision to place her baby for adoption, recognizing she wasn’t prepared to raise a child. After giving birth to a baby boy she named Riley, she cherished their brief time together, holding him close for three days before he was placed with his adoptive family.
“It was perfect,” Austin reflected. “I knew our time was limited, so I made every moment count. I didn’t sleep for those three days.” Letting him go was heart-wrenching, as the emotional toll of saying goodbye was immense.
Riley, renamed Steven by his adoptive parents Chris and Jennifer Schoebinger, was placed through a closed adoption, meaning Austin was not meant to have any contact with the family. Closed adoptions are increasingly rare in Utah, with 95% now including some level of openness between birth and adoptive parents.
But just a week later, the Schoebingers changed their minds.
The couple felt Austin should remain a part of Steven’s life. “It just felt right,” Jennifer shared with CBS News. “She was part of our family. You can never have too much love, can you?” Chris added, “Why couldn’t he belong to all of us?”
From that point on, the Schoebingers kept Austin in the loop. Every year, they sent her photos and journals chronicling Steven’s life in detail, including milestones, memories, and even a list of new words he learned each year. The journals, titled The Life and Times of ‘Riley,’ honored his original name and served as a bridge between Austin and her son.
Their relationship became more tangible when Steven was 7 years old, and Austin taught him how to fish—a moment that solidified their bond.
This unconventional arrangement has been a gift for everyone involved. “I was blessed beyond words,” Austin said. Steven agreed, adding, “I really got the best of both worlds.” While maintaining contact with birth parents can seem complex, studies show that 84% of adoptees feel more satisfied with their lives when these connections are preserved.
Now 27, Steven and his wife, Kayla, welcomed their first child in August 2022, a son they named Riley—honoring the name Steven was given by his birth mother. The gesture marked a full-circle moment for Austin, who is now a proud grandmother.
This inspiring story demonstrates the power of breaking down barriers and opening hearts. “I think the biggest lesson we learned is that sometimes we create obstacles where they don’t need to exist,” Chris reflected. “When we remove those barriers, we often find love waiting on the other side.”