A family of 7 stands in a court room, flanked by two social workers with a judge standing behind them.

A Family Reunited: Kevon’s Miraculous Adoption Story

From the very beginning, Kevon faced overwhelming challenges. Born three years ago with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a condition resulting from drug use during his mother’s pregnancy, he had no family to care for him or a stable home. His early years were marred by a lengthy hospital stay due to birth defects, followed by placement in a medical foster home. Despite these hardships, an intervention from a United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) partner agency led to a life-changing adoption, giving Kevon a loving, supportive family just in time for the holidays.

Love and care for Kevon

Children born with drug exposure face immense challenges during the early stages of their life. According to the National Institute of Health, the neonatal mortality rate for infants of drug-dependent mothers is more than four times the rate of non-drug-dependent births.

These challenges are why UWGSL prioritizes providing funding and support to nonprofits like the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition who focus on eliminating systemic gaps and barriers to help find healthy, culturally competent, safe and nurturing homes and communities for children and youth.

This mission inspires the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition’s Extreme Recruiters, like Maddie Bobbitt, who took on Kevon’s case in September 2023. Through the Coalition’s Family Finding program, Maddie thoroughly researched Kevon’s family background and was able to connect with his maternal relatives.

Incredibly, they had no idea Kevon had even been born. Once they learned about his situation, they were eager to bring him into their family.

“I was actually happy about it, becoming a foster parent was always something that I wanted,” said Michelle, Kevon’s second cousin. “When I heard the news, it was an automatic yes for my family and I.”

Michelle’s household consisted of her spouse, their three children, and after finding out about Kevon, they hoped to add a fourth. After making the decision to adopt Kevon, they began the adoption process which included visiting Kevon to get to know him and make him more comfortable with his soon-to-be new family.

On March 12, 2024, Kevon met Michelle and her family for the first time.

“He was shy at first, it took some time for him to get used to a new environment and new people being around him,” said Michelle. “But he was eventually happy with us. I have two other toddlers, so they were able to play with him and get to know each other.”

Two months later, Kevon moved in with them, and on November 23rd, Adoption Saturday, they made the adoption official at the St. Louis County Family Court – Kevon finally had a place to call home.

“Everyone was so happy about it, this was something new, a first-time experience for us to go through the whole adoption process,” said Michelle. “At the end when everything was all done, the outcome was such a big relief, and we were happy that he could live with us full-time without the fear of being taken away again.”

“It’s huge when we get to witness children go from being in foster care and foster homes with traditional foster parents to be reunited with their biological family,” said Maddie. “Even though Kevon and Michelle had literally never met each other, he was reunited with his biological family, and he will now forever be with them.”

Kevon was adopted right at the start of the holiday season and for the first time, he was able to spend it with a family that loved and cared about him. Michelle said it was a blessing for her to welcome her new child during that special time of year.

“It was such a joy to have him with us for the holidays, he was already 3-years-old by the time Christmas and everything came around, but it was his first time with us, so it felt like a fresh start for all of us.”

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Rodney Humphries
Rodney Humphries