(Posted 2026 November)
By Emma O’Mahoney, Adoption Unit
A baby girl entered foster care in July 2024 at one month old. She had experienced a traumatic birth. She was exposed to substances in utero and was born extremely premature at 26 weeks gestation. She weighed just two pounds, five ounces. She had a number of medical needs that required her to spend over three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
She was abandoned by her biological mother and father and left without a legal name. Once she was discharged from the hospital, she was placed in the foster home of Adrienne Randall and Melanie Vracas. This became Ella’s first and only foster home, and ultimately her forever home.
From the beginning, Adrienne and Melanie provided Ella with a safe, loving, and nurturing environment. They were trained to support Ella and care for her complex ongoing medical needs after she was released from the hospital. They took her to many specialists’ appointments and ongoing occupational therapy to support some developmental delays.
As they cared for Ella and loved her as their own, Adrienne and Melanie knew that Ella's initial goal was reunification with her biological parents. Adrienne and Melanie understood that it was best for Ella for her biological mother and father to achieve sobriety and improve their circumstances. They truly wished for this to happen.
Ultimately, reunification with her biological parents was not possible and no other relatives were able to take her in. Melanie and Adrienne stepped forward as the best possible adoptive family for Ella.
Ella is thriving as a part of this loving family. She continues to make significant progress across all developmental areas, making up the difference in the delayed skills.
Ella is now connected to her maternal grandparents. The family set up weekly video calls and other communication to help that relationship grow and bonds to form.
In June 2026, Melanie and Adrienne officially adopted Ella. She became a part of their family forever. She is surrounded by love, safety, and support. She has the security of a permanent family and the foundation to continue growing and thriving.
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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