Amaya's Adoption Mission

Amaya is a thriving, healthy 12 - year old girl who earns  A's, honor roll student, enjoys raising chickens and rabbits and is admired by all who know her, but she has one wish. That wish is to be legally adopted by the couple she considers to be her mom and dad - Tracy and Kelly. Tracy is Amaya's paternal grandmother, but Tracy's role is of a full-time mom since Amaya's birth in 2007. Now, at the age of 12, Amaya has chosen to be adopted by Tracy and Kelly, but here is where the story gets complicated. While Tracy has taken on the role of mom, she's never once been offered public assistance for caring for and providing for Amaya.  Since 2013, the couple serves as Amaya's court appointed legal guardians. When Tracy and Kelly married in 2011, Amaya would have been eligible for Kelly's veteran benefits if she was his legal daughter. Kelly served with distinction in the U.S. Army for more than 16 years, including multiple combat tours in Iraq. Medically retired from the service, Kelly now calls Southern California home where he and Tracy still face significant financial challenges when it comes to proceeding with the adoption of Amaya. "We want to make sure that we do all we possibly can to secure her future," Tracy and Kelly said. "We've been Amaya's parents."  "We are the parents who wipe away the tears, give her unwavering love, tuck her into bed , attend each and every school function, have been by Amaya's side since birth and provided for her every need." "She's our little girl and she deserves this adoption. "I have raised her as my daughter for the last 8 years since our marriage, "Kelly said.  Together, Kelly and Tracy have a beautiful family of 5 adult children and 8 grandchildren with Amaya being the oldest grandchild. Our children and grandchildren are our greatest joy.  Amaya's biological parents have consented to the adoption, but there are still costly legal obstacles to overcome for this family. Amaya was never in Foster Care and this is considered a private adoption.  Kelly and Tracy met when they were in elementary school, went to the same high school and went their separate ways for many years before reconnecting and finding love later in life. Kelly went into the Army, while Tracy raised her own four children and has been a rock  to her family through the good and bad. Even donating a kidney to her sister in 1996. Unfortunately, Tracy's sister Valeri, died suddenly on June 17, 2019 at the age of 47. Kelly and Tracy paid for the unforseen death expenses and all related costs for Valeri's death. Now, the strongest bond that Kelly and Tracy share is not only their love for each other, but their love for Amaya. So, they are looking for friends and family to help them in what they call their "Mission of Love." In order to ensure that Amaya becomes their "legal daughter" they will need to raise more than $10,000 to help defray the costs of the adoption. Since Amaya was never in foster care, the family is not entitled to adoption assistance.  We need to raise $4,500.00 for the Mandatory Home Study by September 1, 2019. The adoption petition has been filed and the family of 3 is scheduled in September with  their Adoption Specialist. If the $4,500.00 is not paid by the due date to the State of California, all efforts, money paid and set forth adoption will be lost. The average adoption is $20,000-$30,000. This is a mission that will help certify something that many of us already know - this is a loving family in the eyes of all who know them. The opprtunity is clear. The mission is clear. "The mission of Kelly and I, has always been to provide Amaya with a loving home, support her and to enrich her life in every way," Tracy said. After 12 years of raising her, it's time to make her wish a reality. It's a mission of love, and any support you can provide is an amazing gift, but even by sharing this message you are helping us to make this dream come true. We thank you for reading our adoption story and for understanding the love that we have for Amaya.