Garrick Family Adoption
In 2015, Elayne and Stephen started their foster care journey. After their first couple of placements were adopted by their family members, they thought that maybe God would just use them as that in-between, safe-place. They were good at getting attached, but also at letting go when that's what was best for each kid. They would feed, snuggle, and love each of those babies when their parents were unable, for as long as was needed. They've had the privilege of fostering 7 children who all ended up in the capable arms of loving relatives.
This brings us to April 2019. Elayne and Stephen received a call about an 11 month old boy. To protect his story, Elayne has asked I don't go into detail here, but it is so incredibly sad. Elayne describes it as the toughest case they've had.
In the 11 months they've had him he has gone from being underweight and unable to eat solid food (yes, at 11 months old) to being up 25% overall. The baby who wouldn't allow you to hold him close or even touch his hands now gives hugs and kisses freely to those he loves. This is what Elayne and Stephen are good at. This is what they've taught their 3 kids to be good at. This is why they keep saying "yes".
Unfortunately, there simply isn't any way he can be reunited with his biological parents, and all other options for family placement don't seem as interested or motivated as everyone would like. Sounds like a piece of cake, right? They should just be able to adopt him and bring him home.
Wrong.
Where we live, foster parents have no rights. Because of the legal responsibility CPS has to look at all possible family options first, children are sometimes placed in homes that are less than ideal. There is no doubt that these family members have love for the kids, but they don't always have the best ability or training to care for them. (Elayne and Stephen have actually had a little boy come back to them a second time because of this very problem.)
Even when you have everyone on the case on your side, the law keeps foster parents at the very bottom of the very last list.
This is where I'd like to ask you for your help.
Elayne and Stephen have decided to take action. There is an option they have called an "intervention" that gives them the ability to fight for adoption and they have hired a lawyer to help them fight. This will give them a voice and a chance at adopting this sweet boy. None of us can imagine life without him and it would be so traumatic to take him away from the place he has lived half his life to be placed with people he doesn't know.
So many of you have loved Elayne, Stephen, and the kids through their entire journey through foster care. From buying the necessities that come with each placement, bringing meals, helping at church and at home, and just loving them and praying for them as they've walked this road and I'm so thankful for all of you.
If you are able to help them at all with the cost of hiring the lawyer, it would be so very appreciated in getting them through this next huge step in, Lord willing, adopting this baby.
Most importantly, I ask that you would pray for the Garrick family. That God, in His kindness, would allow them to be this baby's first forever family and give him a forever home. Please pray that if this isn't God's will, that they would be thankful for His sovereign plan and that whether adoption is His will or not, they would only seek to glorify Him.
Thank you!
Sarah Crook