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It was Christmas time. As classmates enjoyed their holiday parties and treats, conversation buzzed about everyone’s plans for the upcoming break. But Bridgett’s focus was elsewhere. She was in her 12^th foster home of the year and was about to be moved … again. That’s when she ended up in the principal’s office.  

Principal Jeremy spoke with Bridgett’s caseworker and learned more about her situation. Not only would she be leaving her foster home, but she would also be spending the holidays in a government office because there was no other foster family to take her in. Jeremy knew that he and his wife, Jennifer, had to help. They agreed to take Bridgett into their home for the holidays. 

Jeremy’s son, Jacob, who went to the same school, remembers his dad calling him down to the office and saying, “We’re going to take this girl in. Her name’s Bridgett, and she’s very sweet. It’s just going to be for two weeks … she’s getting relocated from a family home to a different family home.” 

As they prepared to bring Bridgett home, Jeremy learned that she was part of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. Through this program, the Foundation supports the hiring of adoption professionals, known as recruiters, who are dedicated to finding safe, loving and permanent families for the longest-waiting youth in foster care. 

LaTasha, Bridgett’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter, shared, “He [Jeremy] saw that she was falling through the cracks, and he was like, ‘Nope, we’re done. You’re not moving anymore. You’re coming home with me.’” 

“It wasn’t until she got into the house that we really kind of built a bond and a relationship, and it ended up changing all of our lives for sure,” Jeremy shared. However, the transition came with some challenges.  

“Let’s be real, after the first two weeks, she really tested them,” LaTasha shared. Since sixth grade, Bridgett had learned to try to forget about her traumas by turning to drugs and alcohol. 

Jeremy and Jennifer quickly worked on a plan for her to go to rehab — but Bridgett was hesitant. 

In the past, when she would go somewhere, she was often shuffled to a new home. Bridgett worried that when it was time to go home, Jeremy and Jennifer wouldn’t take her back. 

“We promised her if she went and received the help, that we would not do that to her,” Jennifer said. 

Jeremy told Bridgett, “We’re going to be steady. We’re not leaving you.” And Bridgett agreed to get the support she needed.  

Before leaving, Bridgett wrote her family a letter detailing some of her past trauma and experiences.  

“I just wanted them to understand what I was struggling with and what was going through my mind all the time and why I was the way I was,” Bridgett shared. “They understood and helped me through a lot of things. I did get help, and I came back, and I felt a lot better. They were just more understanding and understood more how to help me.”   

Jennifer is proud of Bridgett’s growth, noting that, “When Bridgett came back from rehab, she was obviously a different person.” Jeremy added, “She really went out and worked hard at it.”  

“When they got her into the program out of state and still stuck with her, that was when you just saw this level of commitment from them that you knew was going to be forever,” LaTasha said. After all they had been through, Bridgett began to realize that she wanted to be a part of this family.  

“When I first moved in, I wasn’t really planning on being adopted. I was already 15. I’d moved to so many homes, so I didn’t really think it was going to happen,” Bridgett shared.  

Since being adopted at age 16, Bridgett is happier, healthier and enjoying making new memories with her forever family.  

“We do Christmas parties and football games and vacations and cruises. I’ve never gone on a cruise before, and it’s actually a lot of fun,” she shared. 

Bridgett is involved with cheerleading at her new school, where she’s been able to have a fresh start. She hopes to attend college and become a dental hygienist.  

Even Jacob, who was uncertain at first about having another sibling, is happy to have Bridgett in his family. “She lights up every room she’s in,” he said. “I call her my sister now.” 

Jeremy and Jennifer showed Bridgett that she could trust again with the safety and comfort of a loving, permanent family.  

Jennifer shared, “She has shown me that during the hardest times, we can get through them, and every day is a new day.”  

If you have room in your home or in your heart, you can help a child, like Bridgett, waiting for a family right now. Explore ways to get involved and join our caring community that makes stories like these possible.