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Adoption Turns Child's Life Around

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Apr 7, 2009 9:57 pm US/Mountain

Adoption Turns Child's Life Around

Written for the Web by CBS4 Special Projects Producer Libby Smith

Reporting
Tom Mustin

LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: 3-year-old Emma found her forever family and is thriving.
CBS
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: Wednesday's Child
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It costs taxpayers $20,000 a year to keep a child in state care. The Adoption Exchange spends $1,565 to place a child in a family.

"We know that we can spend a little bit of money now and give them happiness and safety and a future or we can spend a lot more money later trying to rehabilitate them and trying to pick up the pieces when there hasn't been anybody there to guide them," said Dixie van de Flier Davis, executive director of the Adoption Exchange.

Emma is one preschooler who's definitely benefiting from the love and guidance of adoptive parents.

"She's bright. She's very smart … very strong willed, and we noticed that from day one," said Liz, Emma's adoptive mom.

Emma is also captivating. We visited her when she was making cookies, and she's the first to tell you she makes the best cookies. She also twirled and skipped and delighted in showing us her princess snow globe.

But Emma wasn't always so energetic and outgoing. She was born drug positive and suffered neglect as an infant.

"She couldn't hold herself up. She couldn't hold anything in her hand. She had no cognitive skills…just kind of laid there in her own little world," Liz explained.

"It was a couple of weeks before she even showed any emotion," Mike added.

Her new parents faced some challenges. Their daughter was healthy but not connected. They quickly learned that rubbing her hands and feet helped keep her attention. Liz read 3 books to her every night and still does. Through their hard work, Emma has grown beyond their expectations. She has an extensive vocabulary, and works beyond her age level.

"I think we're great parents, and she has fabulous grandparents and teachers. We're blessed to have the people in our lives that we have to help us with her," Liz told CBS4.

Liz and Mike couldn't imagine a life without their daughter. She makes this family complete.

"There was never a thought of it was someone else's," Mike said.

"I fell in love with her the minute I seen her," Liz added.

On Wednesday, April 8th, CBS4 will hold its annual Day for Wednesday's Child. From 5am to 10:30pm, we'll be raising money and awareness for the Adoption Exchange. Providing safe and loving homes for the state's thousands of foster care children is the main mission behind the Adoption Exchange. You can help by making a donation at the Adoption Exchange Web site.

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