Abandoned Boy Goes From Rags To Riches
Adoption To Be Finalized In Six Months
"They wanted to drop this child off," Smith said.Smith, who had never met the family before, said he assumed they came to his office with interest in adopting the boy. He soon learned the man and woman were Jaden's birth parents, wanting to part ways with their child."I had tears in my eyes when I heard about that. I was speechless," Smith said.Jaden's parents told Smith that they have nine other children and wanted to give the boy up for adoption."The natural mother indicated that she never bonded with the child when the child was born. She never hugged the child. She never told the child that she loved him," Smith said. "The natural father had stayed with Jaden for about five months and he came out, he had some tears in his eyes."The mother and father then left and Smith had to decide what to do with the child in his office.Jaden weighed only 28 pounds and his only possession was a cardboard box with one item in it."There were no clothes. There was just one toy," Smith said. "I wanted to make sure that his life would be better than he could ever dream," Smith said.Smith worked to find a home with for Jaden and decided that a woman named Darlene might be a good fit."He understood that wishes dreams and fairytales, they do come true," Darlene said.Darlene is a single, middle-aged, hearing-impaired woman whose been trying to adopt a child for years. Just weeks ago, she didn't know Jaden existed, but said she had a feeling something good was about to happen.The day Darlene heard about Jaden, her guide dog, Jasmine, spent the entire day sitting in the nursery its owner was desperately trying to fill. "I was asked if I would like a 3 ½-year-old boy, and right away I knew the boy was for me," she said. "He's just adorable -- the best present I've ever had in my life."Darlene learned of Jaden just in time to spend Christmas together."He was up before I was at 2 in the morning, and he opened everything by himself," she said. "He was a gift to me and I'm a gift that was given to him."About two months later, the two spent another holiday, Valentine's Day, in court, where a judge decided to place the boy into the care of Darlene.Darlene and Jaden celebrated outside by releasing some red and white, helium-filled balloons, symbolizing their new life together.Darlene said Jaden has given her new life after the deaths of her mother, father and sister."After my mom died, I kind of died, too. So, this little boy means a lot to me," she said.Jaden, who was left with nothing, will someday become the sole heir to Darlene's fortune, Local 4 reported."Jaden will inherit her wealth, in which she has inherited from her family," Smith said. "It is a rags to riches story. No doubt about it."Everyone involved in the adoption process said they have the utmost respect for Jaden's birth parents, Local 4 reported. They know it was a courageous act to leave the boy with the chance for a better life.Jaden and Darlene will return to court in six months to make the adoption final.








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