{"id":244855,"date":"2021-05-14T15:37:27","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T20:37:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=244855"},"modified":"2021-05-14T16:29:38","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T21:29:38","slug":"foster-care-adopts-disabilities-forever-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/foster-care-adopts-disabilities-forever-family\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Meant to be’: Family fosters then adopts two girls with disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Juan and Judith Arguello always wanted five children. After having two biological children of their own, Mariano and Judith, the couple decided to work with the organization Toward Maximum Independence (TMI), which places children with disabilities with foster and forever families. Now the couple has adopted two daughters with developmental disabilities<\/a>\u00a0through that program, and hope to soon adopt a son.<\/p>\n

In 2016, the couple began their foster care journey and took in Akilah, now 10. They fell in love with her right away, and were able to adopt her. Then, in 2018, they fostered Lily, age 14. Her adoption was finalized in 2020.<\/p>\n

“As soon as she came in the house, we loved her. She fit right in, it was meant to be,” Judith and Mariano told CBS8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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TMI said that as soon as Lily moved in with her new family, her health began to improve. Her parents act as strong advocates for her, ensuring she receives all of the medical, educational, and therapeutic services she needs. She is now walking with a walker, and spending less time in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n

READ: Woman who grew up in foster care adopted at age 19 by caseworker<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n