Three years ago, Becky and Jason Weilage began the foster to adopt process through St. Joe’s because they wanted to make a difference in the lives of children who needed a family.
Their wish came true when the couple began fostering 1-year-old Jill in July 2022 along with her 2-month-old sister Samantha. Jill, who had a pacemaker implanted in March 2022, spent 5 ½ months in the neonatal intensive care unit without much contact with her biological family. “She was born February 14. The last time the family visited her was in mid-March, so we were appointed through a state social worker and hospital social worker in June. They allowed us to be involved even though she was still in the NICU,” says Becky.
Caring for two babies, she says, isn’t without its challenges, but the couple is thankful to St. Joe’s for the opportunity to be parents. “I remember the day that Jill knew who I was. You could tell in her eyes…she knew my voice and face. She will break her neck looking for me if I am talking and not with her. And her little smile is infectious.”
Thanks for sharing, Becky!
P.S. Interested in learning more about fostering or adopting a child? Call or email us with questions at (502) 893.0241 or info@sjkids.org.
This post was supported by funds made available by the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Health Equity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, under RFA-OT21-2103.
The content of this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Kentucky Department for Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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