MARY MEAUX
BEAUMONT — Kimberly and Jamie Miller made the decision to adopt their son even before they laid eyes upon him.
Late last year the Longview couple opened their hearts and home to the disabled tot. When Marc Miller, now 3, entered their life he wasn’t able to walk, talk or eat. But with love and care and has defied the odds against him.
The boy walks with assistance, speaks and eats and is very happy, Kimberly Miller said.
The Miller’s joined nine other families during Jefferson County Adoption Day on Friday in Judge Larry Thorne’s courtroom.
Had it not been for Kimberly’s place of employment, the family might not have known about Marc, Jimmie Miller said.
Kimberly Miller works with everychild, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of a system of support for families to provide alternatives to institutional placement of children with disabilities.
The idea of adopting a child with disabilities did not make the parents shy away. Nine years ago the couple lost a special needs child, the mother said.
Lark Turner and Thorne shared a laugh before getting down to business.
“I was a little nervous saying in front of her that there are 6,000 other children left to adopt,” Thorne said.
Turner has been a foster parent for 20 years. One Friday, Jay’rone Xavier Turner became her 11th adopted child.
The newest addition to the brood is 19-months-old and has been part of Turner’s life since he was four weeks old.
Of the 11 children Turner is mother to, three are special needs children.
When asked if she would consider adopting another child, Turner gave a big smile and answered.
“I never planned for the last six,” she said.
As Turner spoke, one of her other children wandered by with a Spiderman cap in his hands and a smile on his face.
The mother said the boy, age 7, was born with hydroencephalitis, was on a feeding tube and has had numerous surgeries.
Shari Pulliam, with Child Protective Services, said Turner has a special gift.
“She (Turner) loves them to life,” Pulliam said. “These are the type of people we’re looking for. People with love in their hearts.”
Currently there are 6,000 children awaiting adoption in the state of Texas. Thirty-nine of those children are located in Jefferson County and a total of 175 are in foster care.
For more information on how to adopt a child, log-on to www.adoptchildren.org
mmeaux@panews.com
