#CattPartyOfTwo Adoption Journey

Hello, my name is Erin and I am fundraising on behalf of my sister Hayley and her recently adopted daughter Paisley.

I've always said Hayley is one of the strongest people I know, and nothing has exemplified that more than her journey as a foster parent over the last six years. She has opened her home and her heart to children whom she has never met. She has navigated their trauma, pain, trust issues, and spiritual growth with grace and patience while also going to bat and fighting with all her might against a system or social climate that sometimes seems determined to make these children a statistic.

In 2019, a 10-year-old girl named Paisley walked through Hayley's door, who had already been in foster care for a year. Her two stipulations for moving to Hayley's house were 1) Did Hayley have a dog? and 2) Can Hayley make tacos?

It was apparent almost immediately that she had a natural sense of humor, despite basically being unable to communicate in full sentences at her age. It was also clear this silly girl needed a consistent and safe place to thrive, learn to communicate and trust, and feel safe. Hayley (along with an incredible support team of therapists, social workers and advocates) immediately went to work teaching her how to speak for herself, develop her confidence, learn important missing life skills, and most importantly learn about her heavenly Father who loves her.

It has been a long journey for Hayley and Paisley since July 2019 — including a year of reunification and reentering care, dozens of court dates, panels, hard conversations, and mediations — but they've finally found permanency together.

Paisley is 14 now and has spent well over 1,400 days in Foster Care. She is finally able to get to call Hayley's home her forever home and our family her forever family.

Her adoption has been an answer to years of prayer, hard work, and commitment to the outcome that is best for her and her future. We couldn't have gotten to this place had it not been for this soft-spoken young girl eventually finding her voice, speaking up with confidence, and boldly fighting for the future she wants for herself. We couldn't be more proud of how far she has come. We are all thanking God for His guiding hand on their lives, and joyfully anticipating the years to come together as a family.

We are, however, keenly aware that on the other side of this joyous news comes the day-to-day struggles and challenges of raising a teenage daughter who has suffered childhood trauma. Hayley is a single mother and manages this role with more aptitude than most entire villages could muster in raising a child. However, the reality is that there are many mountains still to climb on this journey.

In the last year alone, Paisley has already required major spine surgery that led to costly after-care, and medical assistance, and continues to require physical therapy appointments and a watchful eye to ensure that her body is healing appropriately. She also has experienced major setbacks in her schooling and educational history which means she now needs regular private tutoring and specialized services to keep her learning on track. An almost immediate need is braces for Paisley and hopefully a new car for Hayley. And of course, there is continued individual trauma therapy and family therapy to help Paisley heal from her past and create deeper bonds of trust and communication between her and Hayley.

There will be years of repair and restoration, life skills building, memory making, healthy choices, and growth required to make sure that this young lady has every chance for a better future.

It is my goal to do what I can as a sister and friend to help them along this journey. I am committed to being a support, providing "a night at Aunt Erin's" when she needs some peace and quiet, buying the occasional meal or planning some fun family activities that relieve Hayley from always having to bear the full brunt of single parenthood.

But none of us can do it alone. So I'm asking for your help to set this #CattPartyOfTwo up for success, to ease the burden of bringing a full-blown teenage girl into your home (they start to get REAL expensive at this age under the best of circumstances). Please consider a donation, however big or small, to show your support for the brave decision both of them have made to redefine their lives and futures and move toward a better life together.