Help Me Adopt the Daughter I’ve Loved for 6 Years

My name is Frankie Edward Alting V. I’m the proud father of two beautiful girls one by birth, and one by heart. Today, I’m asking my community for help so I can legally adopt the little girl I have loved and raised as my own for the past six years.

In 2020, I met Rachel and her daughter, Weslyn. Weslyn was just three years old at the time. As Rachel and I grew closer, I quickly fell in love with Weslyn too. Becoming a father had always been a dream of mine, and before I knew it, the three of us had built something that felt real, safe, and full of love.

I quickly moved in with them and naturally stepped into the role of a father figure. I didn’t realize at first how much joy and purpose that role would bring to my life. I’ve been there for the everyday moments that matter most,holidays, birthdays, school events, carrying her to bed, and all the memories in between. One of my favorite memories is Weslyn’s 4th birthday, it may have been her 4th, but it was my first.

We all wore matching unicorn shirts and celebrated together as a family.

I’ve been so lucky to have shared so many now.

Weslyn was born in 2016 to Rachel and her biological father. At the time, Rachel was still a minor and had been in an abusive and manipulative relationship with him for years. During that time, she endured emotional and physical abuse, drug use, and dangerous behavior that made her fear for both her life and Weslyn’s.

Eventually, Rachel found the strength to leave. She packed up everything she had and moved to a new town to escape the abuse and build a safer life for her daughter. Even then, he followed her and continued to create instability.

Not long after, I entered their lives. From that moment forward, the three of us built a life together full of love, stability, and memories. Later, Rachel and I welcomed our daughter Lily, Weslyn’s little sister. At first, Weslyn struggled a bit with the change after being an only child for so long, but over time they formed an incredible bond. Like most sisters, they argue sometimes but they love each other deeply and are truly inseparable.

Over the past 9 years, Weslyn’s biological father has shown very little involvement in her life. He has attended only two birthdays and one Christmas that I can remember. We attempted supervised visits for a short period of time, but they quickly stopped. He has provided almost no financial support and made many promises that were never kept.

Despite all of this, Weslyn still carries his last name because he is listed on her birth certificate.

Now that she’s getting older, Weslyn has begun asking questions about her name. She wants to share the same last name as the rest of our family. She wants to feel fully connected to the home and family she has grown up in.

Unfortunately, the legal process is expensive. I’ve been told it will cost atleast $3500 with the biological fathers consent.

I would do anything for this little girl, and sharing my last name with her would mean the world to both of us. But I can’t do it alone.

I’m asking my community for help, the biological father has finally given permission to sign over his rights and we must give him Grace.

We are still waiting to meet him to sign those papers.

Thank you to anyone who reads this, shares our story, or contributes in any way. Your support means more than words can express, and it will help give a little girl the chance to officially belong to the family she has always known and loved.