One of the priorities for children in foster care is reunification and adopting from foster care. While reunification is always the primary goal of foster care, when that is no longer an option, it is joyous to see children gain a new home through adoption.

Danielle’s Adoption Journey

Mother of five Danielle from Cedar Bluff, Virginia shares her adoption with Foster Love - Together We Rise.

“We knew we wanted a big family. It didn’t seem like that would happen when I was diagnosed with secondary infertility after having our bio daughter. We decided after much consideration that we would go into foster care.

Our first call was for a 3-week old baby. I knew this was what we were supposed to do. She was underweight, but oh so beautiful and brought joy into our hearts. We were able to adopt her when she was 18 months old, November of 2016.

Our second placement was for a 9-month-old baby. About a year after we took our first placement and the CPS worker asked if we could also take his 2-year-old sister.

We couldn’t say no. We just finalized their adoption in November 2018. Around July, we heard that their older brother was able to be adopted. He came to us in August, and his adoption will be finalized in a couple of months. The other two siblings are being adopted by a family close to us, and we stay in contact with them regularly.

It doesn’t always happen like this. But we have adopted every placement we have taken in for the four years we have been foster parents.”

How has this chapter made a positive impact?

It has opened up our eyes to a world I never knew existed, only heard stories about.  It has changed our lives forever, not taking anything for granted, food, a roof over our heads, life, a deeper outlook on reality. We have chosen to change as many kids as we can in our short time here on earth, and that is how it has positively changed us. through adopting from foster care.

Future parents, love your children, do what’s best for them and their future. They didn’t ask to be brought into the world, but they demand attention and love in order to be loving decent human beings. Future foster parents, be prepared to love even when it’s hard. Be prepared to have heartbreaks, these kids are worth it. Be prepared to lose your life as it was, but in return gain a smile or hug from a child who desperately wants a parent.”

If you want to share your adopting from foster care journey or any other related stories, feel free to contact us!