Ty is now 10½ years old. We adopted him when he was 5 years of age but had him with us as a foster son from the time he was a baby. In the 5 years, during his foster care placement with us, he was returned to the biological parents 3 times. Each time it was devastating for him. He was so afraid and with good reason. The length of time he stayed with the biological parents was no more than 3 months. Then due to their lack of housing, jobs, abuse and neglect he would be returned to our care. Finally his guardian ad litem filed the termination of parental rights and we adopted Ty.

Ty was diagnosed as autistic. He could only speak a couple of words, wouldn’t participate in play activities with other children even though he attended a wonderful Early Childhood class 5 days a week. He was seeing a fantastic therapist who he trusted. After the termination of parental rights (TPR), I asked the therapist if she could think of a way to tell Ty that we were going to adopt him because I wasn’t sure he understood this when we told him. After the therapy session, the therapist told me Ty was relieved. I knew these couldn’t be his words and the therapist said his words were, “I don’t have to worry anymore!”

That summer he taught himself how to read and began speaking as never before. Now he has friends, loves school and is a very determined young man to do his best. There are delays in his development but not nearly as severe as before he found permanence.