Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Oriane Eriksen
Director

Adoption Snapshots - The Smith Family

Adoption Snapshots - Smith family collage photo graphicApril 20, 2019: “After being her foster parents for almost three years, this Thursday we are signing the papers to adopt Eden! I cannot believe it. I thought this day would never come! She has felt like our daughter for so long, and now we can stand before a judge and make it final. I can’t wait until we are a family of seven.”

I wrote this over a year ago in my journal. I never imagined we would begin adopting children with complex medical needs.

Eden is the happiest girl I know, and she shares her joy with everyone she meets. Six years before adopting Eden, who has Kabuki Syndrome, we adopted a sweet-hearted little girl with cerebral palsy. The doctors did not know if Lidia would ever walk, but now we love watching Lidia play tag while giggling and running from her sisters.

Just when I thought our hearts could not get any fuller, we received a call to pick up a precious miracle baby girl from the hospital.

As tough as 2020 has been for our family, at least one good thing has come out of it. We learned we would be able to adopt our now one-year-old baby girl. When I look at my family, I am amazed. I would have never in a million years imagined the way our lives would turn out. 

God has been so good to us. Now we are counting down the days until we are officially a family of eight! Who knows what the future holds, possibly the little brother Marky has been holding out for? Well, I do not know that, but I do know one thing. It holds a whole lot of love.


Connection and belonging are human needs. There are many children and youth in Virginia awaiting adoption. Learn more about Foster Care and Adoption. If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, send an email.

For media inquiries, contact Department of Family Services' Public Information Officer Amy Carlini by email, office phone 703-324-7758 or mobile phone 571-355-6672.

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