Internet Rallies to Find Family for Girl With Cerebral Palsy
Grace has one wish for the holidays: to find a family.
The 3-year-old, who has cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease, is currently living with foster parents Jill and Paul in England. However, the couple are nearing retirement and won’t be able to look after Grace for much longer. Jill is 57, and over the last 19 years she and her husband have fostered 40 children, according to The Daily Mirror.
“It’s so important for her to find a family and to finally see her settled,” Jill told The Mirror. “She needs a family for Christmas.”
#AdoptGrace Our trained advisers are prioritising enquiries from approved adopters – call us on 0300 222 0022 pic.twitter.com/BecofnB0vE
— First4Adoption (@First4Adoption) October 23, 2015
Grace was born prematurely at 25 weeks weighing only 1.3 pounds. She entered foster care after her mother suffered a brain injury, and it’s been a challenge to find a family for her ever since.
But a public campaign from adoption agency First4Adoption, along with the help of thousands of people online have made the possibility of finding Grace a home for the holidays a reality. “It is overwhelming to see this kind of response, but she’s a beautiful little girl,” Jill told the Mirror. “She will be a gift to any family.”
The hashtag #AdoptGrace exploded on Twitter this week, and hundreds of people all over the world have contacted First4Adoption, which is currently “prioritizing approved adopters who are able to provide the round the clock care that Grace needs.”
Grace is almost 4. She’s been waiting for an adoptive family since birth. https://t.co/av92zkZMAZ #AdoptGrace pic.twitter.com/evB5ebI8dI
— First4Adoption (@First4Adoption) October 23, 2015
Jill said Grace is sweet and very undemanding, but due to her medical issues she does require some extra care. Grace has difficulty eating, needs to be monitored through the night, and during the winter she’s prone to chest infections.
“We would all love to have perfect children and Grace does face challenges in her future,” Jill told the Mirror. “But it in her own unique way, Grace is perfect. She is a fighter. She defied doctors – no-one expected her to be here. But she is. And it is her determination to be here that means she is alive and happy today.”
If you are interested in adopting Grace, call First4Adoption.