'Blended' family bliss

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

The Adoption Day celebration Friday at the Trumbull County Courthouse sponsored by Trumbull County Children Services and the county probate court put a little different spin on the phrase “blended family.”

Not only did several children become permanently bonded to new families, it also became clear that some of the children are likely to maintain bonds with their biological family.

Todd and Jodi Markovich of Niles and William and Stacey Anderson of Warren adopted a total of four children, two for each couple. All four children have the same biological mother.

The Andersons became foster parents to Ja’Niyah, 2, and Brooklyn, 6, in September 2013. The couple also is foster parents to the girls’ half brother, Jeremiah, 11 months. The couple hopes to adopt Jeremiah one day, too.

But the children also are half sisters and brothers to the boy and girl adopted by the Markovich family – Christopher and his younger sister Sazah. The couple also has a biological son, Jerry, 10.

Bill Anderson says he’s not only excited to have Ja’Niyah and Brooklyn as permanent members of his family, but he also believes it’s important that the girls also remain in touch with their biological family.

Brooklyn’s biological father, aunt and grandmother attended the ceremony and have remained part of Brooklyn’s life while living with the Andersons.

“Brooklyn is in constant contact with her father’s family, and she’s in constant contact with her biological aunt. You can’t have too many people who love you,” he said.

“We have regular visits with the other sister and brother,” Bill Anderson said. “We don’t want them to lose contact with their biological family. We took them out for trick or treat the last two years,” he said. The baby, Jeremiah, also got to participate this year.

When the ceremony was over, Brooklyn took time to sit in the courthouse hallway with biological family members, including her biological father, whom she refers to as “Daddy Mike,” and her biological grandmother, Kathy Judy.

“We’re just delighted with the Andersons,” Judy said of Brooklyn’s new parents. “They took the children into their home and they [the Andersons] feel very blessed, and we feel very blessed because they are a wonderful couple.

“She knows that’s her biological dad, but her new daddy and mommy do all the hard stuff.”

“They are sweet girls,” Bill Anderson said of Brooklyn and Ja’Niyah. “These girls are an absolute blessing in our lives.”

Tim Schaffner, executive director of Trumbull County Children Services, said it’s beneficial if adopted children maintain contact with biological family members.

“When the biological parent stays involved, [the children] understand they are loved by their biological parent, even though the biological parent could not [be their parent] because of any number of challenges in the parent’s life.”

James and Denise Allen of Leavittsburg adopted Vada, 8, which seemed to bring James close to tears several times during the ceremony.

“It’s very emotional getting attached to a child and knowing there is a possibility that they could leave your home,” he said of being a foster parent.

“You hope God puts you in the right position” for the child to become a permanent member of the family, he said.

Denise Allen said children services tells foster parents to expect that it’s likely at least one child they bring into their home will go back to his or her biological family.

“There is a fear of becoming attached, but you have to stick it out and take the chance. It’s not easy,” she said. The alternative is to adopt through a private agency, but that can cost $20,000 to $30,000, she said.

“We lucked out. She’s very well-adjusted,” Denise said of Vada. The couple also has a biological daughter, Desi, 12.

“I’m very happy because it’s the first time I’ve ever been adopted,” Vada said.