Amber Portwood’s Heartbreak: How Leah’s Adoption Thought Nearly Destroyed Her

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Amber Portwood didn’t take the news of her daughter’s adoption well.

Following Leah Shirley, the 16-year-old daughter of Gary Shirley (her ex), stating her desire to be formally adopted by Kristina Shirley (her stepmother), the Teen Mom celebrity confessed that she was finding it difficult to comprehend and deal with this adoption request.

On “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter” (aired April 17), Amber admitted that she felt like she was already in a deep, dark hole due to the incident with her fiancé Gary Wayt from North Carolina. However, when she learned about her daughter’s desire to be adopted, this new revelation overshadowed everything else for her.

Amber, aged 34, expressed, “For more than four months, I’ve been resting in bed. It dawned on me recently that what I really needed was my mother.

In a chat with her mother Tonya Portwood, Amber, who is also a parent to James (age 6) with Andrew Glennon, opened up about the effect the recent news had on her.

This morning, I found myself awakening with an overwhelming sense of despondency, as if the question “Why am I awake?” echoed within me. I shared this sentiment with my mother.

At sixteen, Amber pondered over her bond with her mom and mirrored Leah’s experience by living with her dad instead.

When I was approximately sixteen, Amber explained in a private moment, my relationship with my mother wasn’t smooth sailing – it was quite stormy. The arguments between us became so intense that I was compelled to depart from our household and reside with my father instead.

During dinner with Tonya, Amber expressed her concern about not seeing a positive outcome with her daughter following such a significant choice.

Amber confided in Tonya, “With everything happening in my life regarding Leah, I’m afraid she might never change her mind.

In a comforting manner, Tonya, upon learning that Amber had been in touch with Leah, urged Amber to stay hopeful instead.

“She’ll come around when she’s ready,” she said. “It’ll be fine. You can’t force her.”

Following our chat, I found myself acknowledging a subtle but noticeable uplift in my spirits, primarily due to the significant enhancement I’ve witnessed in my bond with Tonya, a transformation that’s been long overdue after years marked by turbulence.

Amber expressed her deep affection for her mother during a private conversation. This emotion is the reason she remains optimistic about Leah’s situation. She believes things will improve, though it might take some time for her to see the change.

In Indiana, where Leah resides with Gary, Kristina, and their younger child Emilee (age 9), Leah had earlier shown an intention for Kristina to undergo the legal process of adoption.

In the March 13 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, the teenager expressed their desire for adoption, saying, ‘Kristina has been with me my entire life.’ They feel that making this arrangement official is important to them. To them, it’s not just about a piece of paper; it represents something more profound.

Leah worried that her mother might challenge the decision, prolonging the court process until she turns 18, at which point the adoption by Kristina would no longer be relevant.

Leah explained to her dad, “If we act or speak, she may complicate things and prolong the process significantly. By that time, it could take up to two years, and at that point, it might not be worth the effort anymore. So, I’m undecided; I need more time to consider my options.

To see where more Teen Mom stars are today, keep reading…

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Following the birth of their son Isaac, Kailyn and her partner Joe faced numerous challenges in preserving their romance during their tenure on Teen Mom 2. After parting ways, Kailyn opted to live independently and started dating Javi Marroquin. They had their first child, Lincoln, in 2013, and got married the same year. In 2017, Kailyn gave birth to her second son, Lux Russell, with long-term partner Chris Lopez. Nowadays, Kailyn describes their co-parenting arrangement as “complex,” as she is currently unattached.

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Viewers recall Janelle as a single mother who often argued with her mother about her choices and the upbringing of her son Jace on “Teen Mom 2.” In an attempt to change her circumstances, Janelle encountered difficulties such as a failed marriage and an abortion in 2013. However, she welcomed her second child, Kaiser, with boyfriend Nathan Griffin in 2014. Following the birth of daughter Ensley with partner David Eason in January 2017, the family grew to three. They tied the knot in North Carolina later that year. Unfortunately, their happy ending didn’t last as David was dismissed from “Teen Mom 2” in February 2018 due to offensive tweets about homosexuality. Most recently, the Eason family has been making headlines following allegations that David killed their family pet dog. As a result of this incident, Jenelle lost custody of her three children.

Catelynn and her partner Tyler determined that it was best for their future child to be placed for adoption. Their daughter, Carly, was eventually adopted by Brandon and Theresa, who often featured on “Teen Mom 2”. In 2015, feeling more ready for parenthood, they had another child together named Novalee and got married that same year. The television personality sought help for her mental health issues in November 2017. Following rehab, Catelynn revealed on an episode of “Teen Mom OG” that she had experienced a miscarriage. In February 2019, the couple joyfully welcomed their third child, Vaeda Luma.

Initially, Maci garnered nationwide recognition as the mother of Bentley, whom she had with her then-boyfriend during high school, Ryan. To demonstrate to other girls that it was still possible to pursue higher education after having a child, Maci decided to join the reality show Teen Mom, aiming to serve as an advocate for helping young women like herself discover alternative paths to achieving their aspirations. Following their separation, Maci pursued her studies in journalism at college. In 2014, she welcomed her first child with Taylor McKinney, who is now her husband. The couple tied the knot in 2016 and added Maverick to their family, their second child together. In 2016, they also became parents for the third time, welcoming Maverick McKinney. Aside from filming for Teen Mom OG, Maci and Taylor run a fashion line called Things That Matter.

Farrah experienced a tragic event when her boyfriend passed away just before their daughter Sophia was born. This incident became one of the most heartbreaking stories on ‘Teen Mom’. Later, she wrote a revealing book titled ‘My Teenage Dream Ended’ and made news after creating a sex tape with adult film star James Deen. In 2014, she gained her own TV special named ‘Being Farrah’. However, three years later, she was removed from ‘Teen Mom OG’, reportedly due to her work in the adult entertainment industry. Subsequently, she filed a $5 million lawsuit against Viacom, alleging “sex shaming”. The lawsuit was withdrawn after reaching a settlement. Since then, Farrah has continued to appear on reality shows like ‘Ex on The Beach’, ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ and ‘Botched’.

To Leah Shirley, you may recall that Amber has been in the spotlight since her first appearance on “16 and Pregnant” in 2009. She faced allegations of domestic abuse against Gary Shirley, her daughter’s father, and was imprisoned for 16 months due to drug-related charges. After her release in November 2013, she became a cast member on “Teen Mom OG.” In 2015, Amber got engaged to Matt Baier, a Montana radio DJ, but their relationship ended after rumors of infidelity. Luckily, Amber found solace in cinematographer Andrew Glennon and together they welcomed son James in May 2018. However, their relationship ended tragically in 2019, following an altercation that led to Amber’s arrest and guilty plea for domestic violence. She was placed on probation. In a new turn of events, Amber is now dating Dimitri Garcia as of 2020.

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2025-04-18 16:21