DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Across the country, over 1,000 children live in foster care, and on National Adoption Day, seven children in Volusia County now have a family to call their own.
One of those growing families are the Brownriggs. Elizabeth and James Brownrigg are no strangers to the foster care system, having adopted two daughters and fostering over 1,300 teenage girls while owning a group home in Colorado.
"We've stayed in contact with a lot of them. In fact, this morning, I had over 137 texts congratulating me [about] their brother," Elizabeth Brownrigg said.
Thursday, the Brownriggs adopted their third child and first boy, A.J. ?The road to adoption has been a long and difficult journey for the 2-year-old.
"A.J. came to us at 33 days; he was a drug baby. My husband looked at me and said to me 'this baby is special,' "Elizabeth Brownrigg said.
For James, A.J. captured his heart when saying 'Daddy I love you,' for the
first time. The parents are excited to share similar memorable milestones together as a family. ?
"We celebrate life in general, because he lived, which was unexpected at the time. So we celebrate everything. He's a very happy little boy now."
For A.J., it is the end of one chapter and the start of a new one, full of hope and love, with his forever family.