Fighting for Her Place in Our Family

After a long and emotional journey through infertility, a precancer diagnosis, and ultimately a complete hysterectomy, my husband and I made the decision to become a resource family with the hope of one day adopting. After months of waiting for a placement, our prayers were answered this past January when we were blessed with the most precious baby girl.

From the very beginning, we knew we would love any child placed in our home as our own—but this little one instantly captured our hearts in a way we can’t describe. From day one, we were asked if we were open to adoption, and without hesitation, we said yes. That desire has never changed. As the months have passed, we’ve built an incredible bond with her, showering her with love, stability, and care.

Three weeks ago, our world was turned upside down. Without warning, our social worker informed us that she would be removed from our home and placed with a family on an adoption waitlist. We were told that we had been mistakenly informed that adoption was a possibility—because of the agency we were with and the fact that we were an emergency placement, they claimed adoption was never on the table.

This was the first time we’d ever heard that. No one had explained this to us, and we were devastated. We knew we couldn’t let this go without fighting for what we believed was in the best interest of this sweet baby. We refused to waive our rights to the 14-day removal notice and immediately sought legal counsel.

Hiring an attorney was not something we had planned for, and the costs were unexpected and urgent. But we knew we needed someone who understood juvenile dependency law and could help us advocate for this child.

This journey has been incredibly difficult and emotional, but we’re not giving up. If you’re able to donate toward our legal costs, any amount would be deeply appreciated. If you can share our story and fundraiser, that helps too.

We are praying for the best possible outcome for this beautiful child we love so much. Thank you for your support, your prayers, and for standing with us during this trying time for our family.

With love,

Freddie & Monique

Update:

We wanted to share an important update with all of you who have stood by us during this incredibly difficult time. After hiring an attorney to help us fight for our rights as foster parents, we’ve finally been able to stop the action the county was trying to take against us. Thanks to that decision, we were able to work with the county and make progress toward a more thoughtful and child-centered resolution. For the first time in weeks, we feel like our voices are starting to be heard. 

Because of this, we’ve now been given the chance to be part of a meeting where we can speak up for our foster child and be involved in making a plan for their future. This is something the county originally chose to move forward with without us—even though we’ve loved and cared for this child like our own. It’s a huge relief to finally have a seat at the table, but we’re not stopping here. 

We’re still moving forward with legal action, because what’s happened has been completely unfair—not just to us, but to a child who deserves so much better. Their best interests were pushed aside, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure that never happens again. 

We are beyond grateful for the love, support, and generosity we’ve received from friends, family, and even complete strangers. It means the world to us. Thank you for helping us keep fighting. We’re not done yet—but this is a step in the right direction. 

 With love, 

 Freddie and Monique Trujillo & family