Success Story: John, Jason, and Jacob
Your kindness changed Tammy’s family forever. Thank you for saying yes to a child who needs you!
Like you, Tammy couldn’t say no to a child in need. “Your sister’s just had a baby. Would you be willing to take him? You’ve got 24 hours to get here or we will place him in a foster family.”
Tammy said yes and adopted her nephew Eric nearly two decades ago. But Tammy had to navigate the private adoption process by herself - without a CASA.
By the time Eric was 13, Tammy received another call. Her great-nephew John was removed due to abuse and neglect, and now he needed a home too.
Tammy did everything she could to have John placed with her, but Tammy was unfamiliar with the foster care system and had no one to help her. Tammy asked around her community and was soon told that John needed a CASA volunteer.
“I didn’t know a thing about CASA. [But] as soon as Ava got on the case, she was right here. She drove 300 miles just for this kid that she didn’t know.” Because of kind people like you, John was given a CASA volunteer named Ava. Now Tammy and John had someone to help them navigate the confusing child welfare system.
CASA Ava drove to Tammy’s home and gathered information to help the judge decide if John should be placed with Tammy. Your kindness changed everything. CASA Ava advocated for John to go be placed with Tammy, and thanks to you, John finally went home with Tammy in October 2017!
We would never be able to do this without you. Your generosity gives families the help they need when they would otherwise face an overwhelming child welfare system without an advocate.
Right before John’s adoption was about to be finalized in summer 2018, Tammy received another call. “…there’s another baby. His name is Jason. He’s John’s little brother, and he was born early. He weighs 1 lb 1 oz. If he lives through the night, will you take him?” “I immediately called Ava, our CASA. She went right to the hospital.” Tammy couldn’t be with Jason every day since she lived hundreds of miles away, but because of you, Jason had someone to make sure he didn’t have to face the NICU alone. Ava rearranged her schedule so she could be at the hospital with Jason several times a week.
You acted with courage and kindness – you said yes to a child in need. You gave the tiniest child a CASA volunteer so he wouldn’t have to be at the hospital alone. Because of your support, Jason was placed with his family after 6 months in the NICU. Jason and John were both adopted by Tammy on the same day.
A year later, Tammy received another unexpected call. “Another baby boy was just born. His name is Jacob, and
he’s Jason and John’s brother. Would you take him?” “I called Ava and said ‘okay, here we go!’”—Tammy
CASA Ava immediately jumped on Jacob’s case to help make sure he was placed with his brothers in Tammy’s home. Because of you, these brothers had someone there to speak up for them and keep them together. Tammy knew what it was like to have to face the child welfare system alone.
She adopted Eric by herself without anyone to guide her. “Without a CASA, you don’t know any of that stuff. I could of never done it without Ava, without a CASA.”—Tammy
Because you said yes to a child in need, brothers Eric, John, Jason, and Jacob get to grow up together, and Tammy now has four sons she calls her own.
Your hardest moment in life...did you face it alone? Just as Tammy said she couldn’t have adopted her sons without a CASA - we can’t give Tarrant County kids a CASA without you. Thank you for changing their lives and filling their futures with caring people like you.