Lost
Katie Page, unfortunately, got a divorce during her early thirties, and so she felt lost in life. It felt like the family and career she always wanted no longer seemed like a possibility.
The route she took thereafter offered a life-changing experience — not only for her but also for the others in her life.
Finding Her Way
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Katie Page from Alabama was in her mid-thirties and already going through a tough phase of her life. Her marriage had come to an end, and she felt unfulfilled. She was struggling to figure out her way in life.
Her plans for a family had to be put on hold at this point. Katie had been on the lookout for a new start when she decided that it was time for a huge change.
New Beginnings
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She knew an overhaul was required if she wanted to achieve her dreams. This is the reason she relocated even though she had opportunities and friends in Alabama. She did some soul-searching before she decided to make some serious life changes. She ended up landing a job that sounded like the solution to her problems.
Katie relocated to Denver, Colorado. There, she started a job in the world of commercial construction. On paper, her position was integrated service manager for a construction company called GE Johnson.
New House
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Katie felt optimistic about the decision she made — even more so after she purchased a 4-bedroom ‘fixer-upper’ house that needed a number of renovations, which she decided to take on by herself. “The house I bought would require extensive work to transform into my vision and most of which I would have to do myself in order to afford it,” she said.
She remembered telling a friend that this huge home was meant for ‘more’, although she had yet to figure out what that meant for her.
Getting On Track
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Renovations would require quite a lot of money but Katie considered this to be a good thing. She needed to avoid spending unnecessarily, which meant she would work on the repairs herself. This would keep her focused and occupied as she got the rest of her life on track.
Living in the four-bedroom home all by herself, caused her to feel like something was missing in her life. Even though her marriage had to end, she thought there might be other opportunities waiting for her. That’s why she decided to find out which options were worth considering.
Seeking Satisfaction
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She was hesitant to get the ball rolling, though she had many options in mind. While Katie felt hesitant, she was aware that there was something she could do to improve her situation. At least, she hoped so.
The renovation project kept her motivated and busy, but it did not give her the satisfaction she wanted.
Health Issues
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She thought that changing jobs and buying a new house would give her a new perspective. Maybe it did, but it didn’t give Katie exactly what she was looking for.
She also had to deal with fertility problems, so she started to toy around with the thought of adoption.
Different Plan
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She was looking for a new direction in life, so Katie started looking into the process of fostering kids. She loved kids and thought it could give her a real purpose in life.
She had always wanted to be a mom, but Mother Nature just wasn’t on board. Perhaps it had a different plan for her.
The Calling
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She got a letter from a local church she had recently joined. It mentioned an upcoming seminar discussing a program for fostering kids in need.
Immediately she felt a stirring in her heart and was attracted by such an idea. Deep down, she felt this was her calling.
Confirmation
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The meeting about foster care at church tugged at her heartstrings. If she had any doubt, this convinced her that this was the path meant for her.
While she still felt nervous about such an undertaking, the possibility also made her heart feel full.
Starting The Journey
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What better way to start her journey than on Mother’s Day? She’d filled out her application form and it ended up changing her life forever.
With an ending comes the opportunity to start anew. This drastic life change offered her the possibility of taking her life in a new direction.
Right Decision
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Being a single woman who was new to the area, she had to weigh out her options before heading straight into it.
She would first have to navigate the area and then navigate motherhood itself! Despite this, she knew it was the right choice.
Desire To Do More
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Not long after she filed her application, she started to receive cases. The foster children that she received were not just children without parents, but they were also children who experienced trauma when they were still very young.
Hearing this made her want to help even more.
Parenthood Calls
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The next year, Katie fostered four kids. She found herself eager to adopt a child of her own. She was content with serving as a foster parent, but she decided to make parenthood a more permanent facet of her life.
From fostering kids, she wanted to adopt one!
Perfect Timing
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She didn’t have to wait long after making this big decision before life showed her the right challenge.
Only two weeks after talking to her caseworker about her desire, she got a phone call about a child who was abandoned by his biological mother at a hospital nearby.
Praying For A Miracle
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The new-born was just four days old. Without hesitation, she knew that this was destiny at work. Katie then told her caseworker, “I want him!” and asked the worker to try not contacting anyone else about the baby.
That night she prayed fervently that the baby would be hers. Only time would tell…
The Call
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Within a day of getting that call, her caseworker contacted her again. Katie answered the phone, hoping she was granted rights to be his foster mother.
That same day she walked out of the nearby hospital, the four-day-old boy in her arms!
New Territory
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She had experience fostering a 14-month-old infant, but she had never taken care of a new-born in the past. This little boy needed help and love.
She thought it was terrible that he was abandoned at such a young age, but sadly, that wasn’t the worst of it…
Drug Problem
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It turns out that Doctors found that the little boy was exposed to illegal substances when he was in utero. He might have been exposed to drugs, but it was a good thing he was not showing withdrawal symptoms yet.
After some tests, they revealed that he was not going to suffer long-term effects. Katie was grateful to hear this news.
Going Forward
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The baby boy had a tough beginning in life, but that was all past him now.
It was time for them to move on now so Katie decided that she would have to give her all if she wanted to take care of this new baby, and so she did!
Naming Him
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Since he was abandoned at only four days of age he didn’t have a name yet! Katie searched online for hours looking for the perfect name for this beautiful baby she was caring for.
Although his name would probably change once adopted, Katie figured she couldn’t call him baby boy forever!
Name Found
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When she first took him home with her, she only referred to him as Baby Boy for days.
She didn’t have a lot of time to think of something to name him, which is why she decided to call him by her favorite boy name: Grayson.
A Connection
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Katie fell in love with him as soon as she laid her eyes on him. Immediately she felt a connection that she couldn’t explain.
She never dreamed that she would turn out to be such a natural at parenthood.
Her Calling
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As days went on, she started to realize that true motherhood was her calling. She felt her soul tell her that she should raise him as her own child.
She’d already fostered little kids that grew up in abusive environments, but none of them stayed with her for a long time. This is what she longed for.
Ultimate Decision
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This ultimately led Katie to make the decision to become a full-time parent.
She knew it would be very different than fostering, but she was ready to go the next step, and adopt Grayson as her son.
Seeking Answers
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Since she had been taking care of him since he was only four days old, he managed to take a special place in her heart.
Grayson stayed with her for nearly a year as caseworkers tried to track down his biological parents.
Search Begins
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They looked far and wide for his mother and father, but couldn’t find them.
They put up ads in the newspaper, and on Facebook but did not get any responses.
No one stepped in to look for the baby boy at the hospital either.
It’s Official
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After some time Grayson finally got a shot at a loving home. He became the legal son of Katie when he was 11 months old!
They had no idea that their life together was just about to start. It’s something that Katie looked forward to and started feeling a little fulfilled.
Health Issues
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Grayson required Katie’s full attention because he was struggling both physically and developmentally thanks to the drug exposure he suffered.
She did sometimes feel like her family was not yet complete, but she waited until her son was eighteen months old before she took in one more foster kid.
Waiting For The Right Offer
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Katie then received multiple emails and calls about potential placements now that her home was open once more. She mostly got offers for short term placements.
She wanted a more long-term arrangement, but she didn’t think it was the right time just yet.
Undivided Attention
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She knew that she wanted to expand her little family; she hoped to focus on her baby boy for the time being.
Grayson deserved nothing less than her undivided attention, so she gave him just that! She threw a little party for him where he thoroughly enjoyed his birthday cake.
More To Come
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She knew that she wanted a bigger family but put off another adoption until her young son was a little older.
Katie had a lot of space in her house, which is why she wanted to take advantage of this.
Another Life-Changing Call
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A month after Katie decided to adopt Grayson; she received a phone call out of the blue.
Little did she know, but the call would change her and Grayson’s lives forever.
A Girl In Need
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The person on the other end informed Katie that there was another new-born who was abandoned by her mother who was in need of a loving home.
She learned that the baby at the hospital was named Hannah. Katie instantly felt that she had to help this little girl.
Similar Traits
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Just like her son, Hannah was also exposed to drugs when she was in the womb. Interestingly, she was at the same hospital where Grayson was found.
She knew that helping out was the right thing to do, but still wanted to focus on her son. What would Katie do?
Deja Vu
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After talking it over with the worker on the phone, she got a sense of déjà vu. In an interview, Katie said, “during all of the phone calls I made that afternoon, the phrase ‘I know I am crazy, but God is telling me to say YES’ kept coming out of my mouth.”
Would she say yes to another baby?
Instincts
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Katie could not help but feel anxious and nervous, but her instincts told her to open up her heart and consider taking in the baby girl at the hospital.
In only a matter of hours, they dropped off Hannah from the hospital, and the little girl met Katie and Grayson for the first time.
No Coincidence
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After Katie welcomed her into the house, she noticed the name of the mother written on the baby bracelet. It turned out to be the same name she found on Grayson’s!
She looked over the baby’s discharge papers and soon noticed that her birth mother had a similar birth date as her little boy’s biological mother. Was it a coincidence?
Suspicion
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Hannah also had similar medical conditions and drug exposure that Grayson had. “[The caseworkers] told me her story, which was really similar to Grayson’s,” Katie explained.
Even though Hannah and Grayson did not look alike, she had a suspicion that the two were related in some way.
Something’s Off
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“Grayson is half African American with beautiful darker skin and dark curly hair,” the mother posted on her blog. She continued, “Baby Girl has a pale white skin tone with straight red-blonde hair.”
While the two kids did not look anything alike, Katie still thought that something was off.
Determined
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It was going to be difficult to find out the truth since Grayson’s birth mother had a different surname. Her birth date was also off by a single day than the one Hannah’s mother had.
Katie was determined to get to the bottom of it that she took it upon herself to track down Hannah’s birth mother.
Slim Chance
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Katie even approached her caseworker and told her that she thought Hannah and Grayson had the same birth mother.
However, she was told that this did not seem likely. For all they knew the chances of that was slim and probably a million to one. Perhaps it was just pure coincidence.
Some Answers
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Regardless, she knew she might have better luck by getting in touch with her son’s caseworker.
She requested to take over Hannah’s case as well. After months of searching for an answer, she finally tracked down and met up with Hannah’s birth mother.
Nerves
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Katie was anxious when she visited the biological mother of her daughter.
As soon as they met up, she could tell that she was the same person who gave birth to her son as well! She couldn’t understand how this was all possible.
Revelation
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The moment she saw Hannah’s birth mother, Katie said that she “knew instantly” that this was also the same woman who birthed her beautiful son.
However, she told herself to keep calm and not to jump to conclusions.
Resemblance
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During the conversation, the birth mother told her some information that confirmed what she suspected from the start. The woman said that she also gave birth to a boy who she gave up without records.
Of course, Katie took into consideration the fact that this woman had a striking resemblance to Grayson as well.
Confirmation
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Katie asked her more questions and learned that the woman had a couple of children. She had another baby boy, whom she did not report to the authorities.
After the meeting, Katie told the social worker everything she learned. The caseworker confirmed that the last name the birth mother gave matched the last name of someone related to Hannah.
Putting The Puzzle Together
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The pieces were finally coming into place, but they had to wait for one more test that would confirm her hunch.
The results of the DNA test revealed that Hannah and Grayson were siblings with the same birth mother!!!!
Half Siblings
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Katie was amazed by the fact that she ended up with these two children by coincidence.
One caseworker decided to look into it and learned that Hannah and Grayson were indeed half-siblings. Katie was absolutely thrilled that she ended up with siblings even if was by accident.
Miracle
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“What if the baby girl had gone to another family?” she asked in a blog post. “We would have never found her or Grayson’s mother.
The connection would have never been made! I could not believe the miracle that had just happened.”
No Separation
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After confirming that the two children were actually biological siblings, she knew it was only right for them to stay together.
Katie did not want to risk the chance that they would be separated, so she acted fast.
The Process
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Apart from that, she was already in love with Hannah and saw just how happy she made her brother.
Katie was willing and ready to make things official, so she decided it was time to begin the adoption process.
An Official Mum…Again
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Together with Grayson and Hannah, Katie went to a courtroom for a hearing.
After this, it was finally official!
Hannah was her daughter by law and would grow up with her biological brother. How amazing!
A Happy Family
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The three of them were a family, and Katie could not be happier to help reunite these two siblings.
When she started on the path of foster care, she had no idea that something this incredible would happen to her.
Perfect Fit
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Hannah spent nearly two years in foster care before she finally found a home she could call her own.
She fit into Katie and Grayson’s life like a glove! Katie now realized that it was all in her destiny.
Perfect Addition
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“I was happy to just give Grayson a life, and I thought that that was big, but I didn’t feel like that was enough,” Katie explained, “So to give him a sister, I couldn’t imagine anything better.”
Hannah was certainly the ideal addition to this small family.
Meant For Each Other
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This was what Katie told People Magazine: “They were meant to find each other, that’s pretty clear. I think God intended that from the beginning.
If they weren’t related, Hannah would not have stayed with our family. She would have been placed with other relatives.”
Natural Caregiver
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When Katie began this chapter of her life, she had no idea that she would have two children so soon. But Katie was an awesome mother. It felt like this was her calling in life.
She was a natural mother and enjoyed taking care of the children. But there was more to come.
Unbelievable
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Her motherhood story did not end with the adoption of Hannah, however.
Thirteen months after the birth of her daughter, Katie got one more unbelievable phone call!
Biological Mother
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The phone call came from the adoption agency with news that would change the life of Katie and her growing family.
Apparently, they were calling her regarding Grayson and Hannah’s birth mother. What was going on?
Nervous Thoughts
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What could be going on with their birth mother? Was she sick? Was she looking to take them back?
A million thoughts went through Katie’s head. She had to take a deep breath before listening to what the person on the end had to say.
Little Brother
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When she received the call from the adoption agency, Katie found out that the birth mother had given birth to another baby boy.
Even though Katie was not planning to become a mother of three, she could not stand the idea of leaving the little boy. What would she do?
Deep Thought
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This revelation meant that the children had one more sibling looking for the perfect home! Katie was astonished by this piece of news.
However, she did not know if she was equipped to adopt another child. She had adopted quite a bit ago, but 3 kids? She had to think this through.
Brand New
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After some introspection, Katie believed it was only right for her to reunite the siblings with their brother.
She then took in this new-born boy and started the adoption process for the newest member of the family.
A New Member
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Katie took another leap of faith by taking in this new-born child called Jackson. Like Hannah, he fit into the family without any problems whatsoever.
In only a couple of months, he succeeded in capturing the hearts of Katie and his siblings. Katie was eager to make things official and become his mother on paper as well.
Another Adoption Process
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Katie took to Instagram to make a post saying the court date for the adoption process was all set.
In the meantime, she was relieved that the baby was under her care, which meant she could look after him and watch him grow.
Keeping Him Safe
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While the adoption process was still underway, she was careful to protect the privacy and safety of her children on her social media profiles. After the news about the miraculous adoption story came out, she started to receive plenty of media attention.
She wanted to make sure that the adoption process went smoothly, which is why she refrained from showing her youngest child’s face on any of the posts she made. Katie always covered his face using stickers or blurs to avoid any unwanted public attention.
The Happy Family
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While they waited for the approval of the adoption, the children continued to live together in Katie’s house. Hannah was already two years old at the time.
She has since grown up to be a very energetic girl who adores clothes, dolls, and shoes. She also likes to take care of her brothers and hopes to grow up to be like Katie!
The Social Guy
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Meanwhile, Grayson has turned three and will attend preschool soon. He has become a social butterfly who enjoys meeting other people.
He now wears glasses to help fix his lazy eye, probably a side effect from being exposed to substances in utero, and we think they are just adorable on him!
Some Company
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Just recently, Katie made posted on Instagram about another addition to the family. In the captions, Katie said, “While I can’t share his face as I vowed never to post him on social media so I could get him to take a photo with me, I can share how grateful I am for him.”
It turns out that Katie and the mystery man had been seeing each other for a year after they met through a pastor. He has been supporting her through the “craziness of foster care” and the surprise addition to their family. We are glad to hear that Katie has this man whom she can turn to for support!
More Responsibilities
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Katie has been receiving a lot of help and support as she raises the three children on her own.
Her sister, mother, and roommate have always been there to help out because she still works in the construction job time despite everything.
Multi-Tasking
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Aside from raising the kids and working a full-time job, she has also been renovating her house. What is even more impressive is the fact that she has also taken on another responsibility when she started a small business.
She runs a website called woodandgrace.net on top of working as an independent consultant for a skincare company called Rodan and Fields.
Flexible Hours
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The beauty company Rodan and Fields sells makeup and skincare. It allows Katie to work on her own hours remotely, which allows her to earn additional income to help her make ends meet.
But how does she find the time to spend with all 3 kids?
The Future
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Katie said, “I am hopeful that one day this opportunity will give me the chance at the freedom to spend more time with my children and one day expand our family even more.
My current traditional career path doesn’t make my dreams seem possible…so I began to consider ways to supplement that complimented my lifestyle and was flexible.”
Sharing Is Caring
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Katie has been using different social media platforms to promote the independent businesses she runs. Aside from her Instagram and Facebook profiles, she talks about her personal journey on the website woodandgrace.net.
On her blogs, you will find her discussing her home renovation project and interior decoration skills.
Changed Life
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She also shared the personal journey she underwent with foster care and adoption.
“The last 35 years has been far from easy or the ‘perfect’ life, but it has been mine and has always been driven by my ‘CRAZY’ dreams,” she posted on her blog. “If people only knew how my children have changed mine far more than I could ever have imagined.”
Extra Help
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Her business decisions have let her finance the extra help she needs to take care of her children. She is planning to hire a live-in nanny so her kids can get some extra TLC.
She has said that it is necessary for foster moms to accept highly frustrating situations and lack of communication. Katie said that it could prove to be a very unmanageable situation if she did not have her faith to keep her afloat.
Determined
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Katie has also been outspoken about her foster care advocacy on her social media profiles.
She posts a lot of encouraging messages that discuss how much fostering has impacted her life. “I don’t know if I believed in miracles for sure. I have no doubt now,” she said when she went on Good Morning America.
Still Waiting
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Katie is still undergoing the adoption process to make Jackson an official part of their family.
“It takes patience beyond what I feel I have sometimes. It makes me and those who support me angry some days. But encounters/relationships with the children make it worth the hard times.
Life Changing
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To think that Katie’s journey all started with one little boy named Grayson is truly remarkable.
Had she not found him, she would never have been able to reunite 3 siblings! Katie spoke on the matter, “It is my greatest adventure and I can’t imagine my life without this experience”.