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Virginia — To see Lila today, full of smiles and laughter, you would never know all that she has been through. Lila is nonverbal and experiences severe, frequent seizures.

When her biological parents realized they weren’t able to care for her, they voluntarily terminated their parental rights, and Lila was placed in foster care. She spent years in a residential facility. Over time, Lila became isolated and withdrawn.

When Lila was referred to the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program, Krista, a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter with Children’s Home Society of Virginia, was dedicated to finding the right permanent family to care for her needs. Recruiters work with smaller caseloads as an additional resource on a child’s team.

A doctor once told the team, “Lila is unadoptable. She will never be able to live in a home with a family.” That moment crushed Krista. But it prompted her and the team to regroup and ask many important questions:

• “What were the possibilities for Lila’s future?”
• “Could she ever live in a home?”
• “Who could be the family that Lila needed?”

In 2016, those questions were answered.

During a visit to Lila’s school, Krista met Allison, Lila’s classroom aide. Her warmth and fierce protectiveness of Lila was evident.

As Krista and Allison sat together, watching Lila playing with pink barrettes in her hair, Krista asked Allison if she had ever considered adoption.

At the time, Allison was in her early 20s. Krista expected a “no” or a “not right now.” To her surprise, Allison shared that she had thought about it. In fact, she would have loved to adopt Lila but assumed it would be a conflict of interest because of her position at the school.

After a conversation with Allison’s supervisor, the school was able to reassign Lila to a new classroom aide so Allison could pursue adoption. Everyone agreed it was worth the change if it meant Lila could have a forever family.

“What we discovered that day was shocking! We learned that Lila’s family had been beside her all along,” Krista shared. “Allison had known Lila for years. Her mother had worked at the residential facility and was one of Lila’s earliest caregivers. Allison’s brother served as her one-on-one aide for two years. Her now-husband, her sister-in-law and her best friend had all worked with and loved Lila. “We hadn’t met them before because we always visited Lila in her cottage, not in her classroom. But when we finally did, we realized Lila’s village was already built, and they didn’t even know that they could pursue legal permanency.” 

Krista helped organize visits after school and on weekends for them to spend more time together.

And over time, something amazing happened.

Lila’s seizures dropped from over 100 per day to just a few per month.

She became more expressive and more joyful. And for the first time, Lila began to speak in short phrases. The impact of consistent safety and love in her life was abundantly clear.

“Lila is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She’s funny, sassy, kind, loving and beautiful in so many ways. Her personality is truly one of a kind,” Allison shared. “My family and I had always said jokingly that we would love to take Lila home to be part of our family. It wasn’t until I talked to Krista that I realized it could become a reality.”

With time and consultations with medical providers, the decision was made for Lila to discharge from the residential facility and be placed in her forever home with Allison in 2017.

“We had all the supports in place, with in-home nursing during evening hours and continued daytime support with the residential facility,” Krista said.

Lila was adopted two days before her 18th birthday. The celebration was joyful, hard-earned and filled with love.

Since then, Lila’s world and her family circle have continued to expand. Allison married her college sweetheart, who is now Lila’s dad. Lila has experienced the magic of a Disney princess trip, traveled with her family and became a big sister.

“When Allison decided to adopt Lila, it was one of the most special days in this grandmother’s life,” Allison’s mom, Shelly shared. “It truly takes a village to raise a child with special needs, but I feel we have the perfect one for Lila.”

Shortly after the adoption was finalized, Allison was able to find and connect with Lila’s birth mother, who shared baby photos and expressed gratitude that Lila is part of their family.

“Lila’s story is the clearest example I’ve seen in my career of what happens when a child feels safe and truly loved. The only thing that changed in her life … was the addition of family,” said Krista. “Belonging rewires the brain, and adoption heals.”

“Thanks to Allison, her friends and family, the residential facility, Roanoke County DSS, Children’s Home Society of Virginia, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids and the openness and creativity of Lila’s legal team, a young woman once considered “too complex” to be adopted has a home, right where she belongs.”

Thank you, Krista, Allison and Lila for sharing your story with us.

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