‘I would do it again’: Local woman officially adopts 2nd grandchild ahead of National Adoption Day

ORLANDO, Fla. — November 20 is recognized as National Adoption Day.

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It’s meant to raise awareness about the thousands of children across the country who are waiting to be adopted from foster care.

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The process to foster or adopt a child can be difficult, but there are organizations to help guide people along the way.

When 53-year-old Daicy Vega went looking for a way to get her three-year-old granddaughter out of foster care, she turned to local community-based care advocates “Embrace Families” for help.

Their goal is to get ahead of the challenges that often disrupt families. In Vega’s case, it was child abandonment.

When her three-year-old granddaughter Dez-Moriah was placed in foster care, Vega knew she had to step in.

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“As time went on that I was seeing less and less of her, I decided this can’t happen,” Vega said. “I can’t lose her. I need to step up to the plate.”

Since 2000, the Friday before Thanksgiving has been a special day for thousands of Central Florida foster children, and this Friday was no exception.

COVID-19 protocols forced many adoption day events to take place virtually, but in the end, Vega was granted final judgement for adoption and officially became Dez-Moriah’s Mother.

She also adopted Dez-Moriah’s older sister 13 years ago.

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“I’m just glad this is all behind us, because it’s been a very long, tough journey. But looking at that face, I would do it all over again.”

According to National Adoption Day data, to date, more than 75,000 children in foster care have been adopted through National Adoption Day events.

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Cox Media Group