A RENFREW couple have told how their adopted son was the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for.

Barry and Lynn Cook first welcomed their four-year-old son to their home when he was just weeks old.

Now they have lovingly created a special ‘life story box’ full of mementos and photographs they will share with him when he is older.

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The couple are also sharing their own story as part of Adoption Week Scotland.

Barry, 39, said: “Being able to have our son has changed our lives.

“We’d already talked about adoption when it became clear there were issues with us conceiving. The fertility treatments were hard on Lynn and we decided not to go down that road any further.”

After three failed rounds of fertility treatment, the couple decided adoption was the way forward for them.

The Gazette:

Barry and Lynn Cook with their son

They registered their interest in becoming adoptive parents with Renfrewshire Council and were visited by a social worker in the first step of the process.

The next step was attending ‘Preparation Groups,’ set up to ensure prospective adopters are equipped for the reality of parenting.

Some 18 months later, the couple’s social worker got in touch to say they had a child in mind for them – an 11-week-old baby boy.

Barry said: “Our situation is fairly unique as it’s very unusual to get a baby. We also got to name him, which was pretty special.”

Lynn added: “No matter how prepared you think you are, it turns your life upside down but we absolutely loved it. As he was so young, we weren’t worried that we wouldn’t bond with him.”

Their son started nursery school in November 2017.

Barry said: “We’ve had a lot of support from the social work adoption team and that’s still ongoing if we need it.

“There’s a lifelong commitment from them to you and your child."

To become an adopter, you don’t have to be a parent or have any parenting experience.

Applicants from any religious or cultural background are welcome.

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You can be unemployed and can be single, married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership and can own or rent your property.

Prospective adopters do, however, need to be aged 21 or over, have a spare room and be in good health.

Adoption Week Scotland runs until Friday, November 23.