TPR? Check!
Today at 3:45, R. came by the house, and as soon as she stepped foot in the door announced,"WE GOT IT!"
The judge signed the TPR in chambers. It was that simple.
But that isn't everything. The best miracle is what I am about to tell you.
Cookie's birth father VOLUNTARILY terminated his parental rights. You read that correctly, folks. He wrote that he wanted Cookie to grow up with two loving parents who could take care of her. He said that he and his wife could not. He asked for only one thing - a picture of Cookie. I did better than that - I sent with R. a whole set of her most recent pictures to add to the stack of photos she already never got to give to Cookie's birth mother before she fled. I felt great about it. That man did perhaps the most unselfish thing he's ever done. A photograph was the least I could do to acknowledge that act.
We will learn more about Cookie's siblings that were adopted over a year ago. One of them had (or has) Wilms Tumor. There is evidence that it is genetic. We will certainly talk to the pediatrician and others we know about Cookie's risks. It only occurs in children, and is almost unseen in children over the age of 8. But, we ALL have some kind of rick factor for something-or-other, so I'm not overly concerned. If anything ever happens, we will proceed as any parent would do - we'll seek the best treatment available.
In the next few weeks, we will be assigned an adoption worker, and R. will bring her by our house and that will be R.'s last visit with us. It will be a bittersweet day, really - she's become "Auntie R." and has done absolutely everything in her power to ensure that Cookie's best interest was protected.
I have only vague notions of what will happen next. I only know we will work quickly to do everything we need to do. I will also try to document every step of this adoption process here so that everyone who may be looking to learn about how adoption from foster care happens (at least in one state) can have some idea of the steps involved. So, you can learn along with us.
We continue to be eternally grateful to all of you who read, who pray, who offer positive thoughts and support. I would never have gotten through this as "sane" as I remain without you. And God heard and answered all of these prayers - in His way, in His time.
Love to you all. For the bottom of our hearts, Thank You.
posted by No Longer In Crisis @ 10/31/2006 05:48:00 PM
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