When little Jeremy was born, his world consisted of doctors, nurses, and hospitals. The ninth child in his family, Jeremy underwent multiple surgeries and was fed through a feeding tube. He was attached to a heart monitor and depended on oxygen to breathe. Confined to the hospital, he suffered numerous, long-lasting infections. He also developed hernias for which he had to undergo additional surgeries. At one point, Jeremy was prescribed thirteen medications. He spent nearly a year after his birth in hospitals, tended to by a constantly changing nursing staff.

Jeremy’s mother and father both had a long history of drug addiction and mental illness that made it impossible for them to care for Jeremy or his eight older brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, he followed the same path as his siblings: into the world of foster care.

Shortly after Jeremy entered into foster care, Joanne was assigned as Jeremy’s Court Appointed Special Advocate. In short order, she learned that Jeremy’s eight sisters and brothers had been adopted by the same family … and that family was still in Maryland. She was able to contact the couple who had adopted all of these children and she, along with Jeremy’s DSS caseworker, went to visit them. These wonderful people, after hearing about Jeremy and all his special medical needs, immediately wanted to make him part of their family.

Just before Jeremy turned 18 months old, he moved from his foster home to the home of his eight brothers and sisters, who ranged in age from five to sixteen years. They welcomed him with open arms. Now, Jeremy happily plays with the younger children and loves to be carried about by the older ones. Jeremy’s adoption was finalized late last year. He no longer needs oxygen or a feeding tube and he continues to grow and thrive in the care of his adoptive parents; surrounded by the love of his older brothers and sisters. Jeremy may never know how his CASA changed his life.