The parents profiled in this Adopt 8 say they asked each other a few years ago: what is life all about? Their answer was making a difference in someone's life and that, they have done. They say that adopting their daughter Nataly has made a priceless difference in their own lives, as well.
"Miracle, just every step of the way, she's been an incredible big sister," said Chad.
They named their 11-year-old daughter miracle, after mom Nicole had pregnancy complications related to having a prior stroke and brain aneurysm.
But Nicole and Chad say their two-year-old Nataly, who is adopted, is just as much a blessing to them as their biological daughter.
"I didn't know that another child could bring so much joy," said Nicole.
"The love is the same. These are my two daughters, hands down," continued Chad.
Nataly was just two days old when she entered their lives as a foster child, but when Nataly became available for adoption, the family didn't think twice about giving Nataly a forever home.
"I've always wanted a sibling and our family was never complete without her," explained Miracle.
Miracle, who was eight-years-old at the time, embraced her little sister with open arms.
"I said you have to share everything. Half as much of everything, half as much of our time, half as many toys, and she said absolutely and she was all about doing it," added Nicole.
"I don't know how I'd imagine a family of three without her. I just, I love her so much," said Miracle.
"They're best friends and I think there's enough of an age gap that they're really, really close," noted Nicole. "Nataly follows Miracle around and wants to do everything she's doing and be everywhere she is and all of Miracle's friends think that Nataly is the best thing ever. And they're all trying to convince their own parents that they should do it."
Convincing others to help a child in need is also the reason this family wanted to share their success story on Adopt 8.
"She's given back to us so much more than I feel like we've given her. She's just, she's been wonderful and brought so much joy. Our entire family on both sides, they love her to pieces," Nicole said.
And that includes Nataly's biological family as well.
"We are great friends with her abuela, her aunties," Chad noted. "Any family in San Diego County, holidays, big events, we're together. Outside of that, we spend a lot of time together actually. It's really healthy."
They say there couldn't have been a more perfect fit for their family and encourage others to make a difference in a child's life.
"I truly feel like she was created to be ours and I feel like it was part of God's plan the whole time," Nicole added.
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.
