One local mom has adopted three medically fragile boys. She's a nurse by trade, who felt compelled to adopt and make a difference in the lives of these precious children.
Caregivers are an essential part of Virginia's support team. The single mother has three young boys - all with special needs.
Four-year-old Jonathan is her youngest, Virginia adopted him about two years ago.
"He was actually born a normal baby, but he had some abuse from his father when he was 10 weeks old," Virginia explained.
She adopted her 10-year-old son Markus when he was three.
"He was born 29 weeks gestation so he was early, so he had some brain hemorrhaging," she continued.
Ten-year-old Troy was the first child Virginia adopted, when he was just 29 days old.
"He looks so good you wouldn't believe what he's gone through," Virginia noted.
Photos Troy when he was a newborn show casts on his tiny legs.
"He was born addicted to heroin so he was dependent on a gastric tube, and he was born with club feet so when I received him, he had casts all the way up to his thighs," Virginia said.
But now he is a proud member of the Mid-City Young Marines.
"He's a miracle. His mom named him Troy. I didn't get to meet his mom, but I thought, you know, this kid has come out fighting so that's a good name for him," added Virginia.
"When I was looking for something that would strengthen character for Troy, because he doesn't have a father, my father's here and we have a lot of male role models," Virginia continued. "But I thought the Young Marines would be something that would show him character that would strengthen him."
The community has embraced all three of her sons and their family and friends adore them.
Virginia says her heart called her to adopt about a decade ago:
"I'm a nurse by trade so I worked in a foster home for many years and this just kind of came to me."
She says raising these boys has been so rewarding, noting:
"All they want is love."
Virginia takes them everywhere she can. They're regulars at the free concerts in the park.
"They like the music and the people and the kids playing around. They like being outside," Virginia said. "Sometimes we'll have them in the wheelchair and we'll go to the dance floor and dance."
Troy, Markus and Jonathan all attend public schools, and Virginia continues to work as a nurse part time. She assures others looking to adopt a special needs child that San Diego County and the State of California both provide resources and support for kids like hers - who deserve a family to call their own.
"These kids they have a special purpose in life. Their purpose is to bring out love and caring in people, because everybody that sees them, if they don't start tearing up, they're just amazed at the quality of love these children are," Virginia said.
If you're interested in adopting or becoming a foster family, call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U during regular business hours.