In this Adopt 8, you will see how the stability and support of a loving parent can transform a child's life. This is the Adopt 8 Success Story of five-year-old Jordan and his mom Maureen.
"It's been amazing. It's been a miracle every single day. I can't think of a better way to spend my life," said Maureen.
It's been almost three years since Maureen became a mom, and she says life with her five-year-old son Jordan is better than anything she could have imagined.
"I just love him, I love him so much. He was born in my heart and I know that God put us together for a reason," Maureen explained.
Adopting a child is something Maureen had wanted to do for a long time, but it took her a while to take action, having had some fears about how she would juggle a child and a career.
"I was thinking, ‘how does one balance all this?' but people do it every single day, so once I actually took the steps to do it, it really was very easy," Maureen continued. "I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing than taking care of Jordan, my son, and he's fulfilled my life in every way. I could never have expected what he's brought to my life."
And what Maureen has brought to Jordan's life is an amazing transformation.
"Actually he was originally diagnosed with mild autism when I first got him, but it was really because he hadn't been socialized and had been through so much as a young child." Maureen added.
In the six months before his third birthday, Jordan had been moved seven different times, but then he was finally matched with his mom Maureen and Jordan immediately began to thrive.
"No, he doesn't have autism, so through security, safety, structure and commitment, and of course love, he overcame all of his challenges," Maureen
Maureen says, while the transition phase can be tough, it's all worth it.
"There were days that I, challenged days, where I thought how am I going to ever do this, but you just wake up every morning and look in those beautiful eyes and you know you can do it,"
And Jordan's biological relatives also get to enjoy his smile.
"He has a great relationship with his grandmother and I wanted to make sure to keep that strong for him,"
Maureen says adopting Jordan was the best thing she's ever done and encourages others to consider becoming a forever family.
"I just think there are so many wonderful kids out there and there are so many giving, loving people and if you can't have a child or you want to have a child this is a wonderful opportunity to take in a child and make them your own,"
If you are interested in adopting from foster care, or becoming a foster family, call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U to learn more about getting started.
The County of San Diego offers monthly orientation classes.
