Success Story: Mya

Born prematurely.

Severe medical problems. 

Multiple foster homes. 

A lifetime of uncertainty.

Two-year-old Mya was born prematurely and spent the first two months of her life in the NICU. She suffered brain damage, severe infections, and the threat of blindness before her first birthday. When she entered foster care at 13-months-old, Mya was unable to walk, speak or eat on her own. Her extensive medical needs required nearly full-time care. In the span of six months, she had been placed in three different foster homes. 

That’s where CASA came in. Elizabeth was a court-appointed Advocate whose singular goal was to make a recommendation to the judge as to the best place for Mya to live. Elizabeth worked tirelessly with Mya’s case workers, attorney, medical team, and foster parents to ensure all of her medical needs were met. She was the one consistent adult during that traumatic time. Elizabeth ultimately recommended to the court that Mya be adopted, and was thrilled to learn that Jenny and Matt Jennings would be Mya’s forever family. 

Jenny said, “Elizabeth gave me hope for better days to come.” At Mya’s adoption, her new parents officially changed her name to Mya Elizabeth, in honor of her CASA volunteer. Elizabeth now knows, “that Mya changed my life.”

Every donation gives children like Mya the voice of a CASA volunteer while in foster care. During an uncertain time in their lives, you can give them the gift of hope in the form of a consistent, caring adult.

P.S. With regular medical treatment, Mya is thriving. Her parents proudly report she can now walk without assistance, say a few words, and sign to communicate!