From the moment they were born, both Arianna and Azee lacked stability.

The sisters were exposed to methamphetamine in utero and were shuffled around from one family member to another for years as each family member struggled with their own addictions. Unfortunately, no one in the family was able to provide the girls with the care and love they needed to thrive. Arianna was left to care for her younger siblings and Azee, at 18 months old, was severely malnourished, displaying bowed legs and a constantly bloated stomach.

When Brodie and Jonathan got a call about the two sisters, they felt like it was the call they had been waiting for. They didn’t know anything beyond the girls’ names and ages, but they were eager to become parents and provide a happy life for a child. Within a few weeks of meeting the girls, they moved in.

“They were the most adorable little girls I could have imagined,” Brodie said. “It was such a quick fit.”

The list of things the girls needed was extensive. They needed proper nutrition, dental work, and educational help, but Brodie and Jonathan were prepared with support from family and Child Crisis Arizona.

Within the two years that the girls were in the couple’s care, Azee’s legs were strengthened and straightened, her stomach issues disappeared, and Arianna developed a sense of security.

“She has always been very guarded and very people pleasing, “Brodie said. “She has a lot of fear of changes happening and I would notice her entire demeanor change when someone from the system would come to visit. Really once the adoption happened that’s when the full child came out. She could just enjoy her life, her school, her friends, her home.”

The process to adopt the girls took two years, with plenty of ups and downs. Just a few short months after their adoption day the family celebrated with a trip to Paris.

“It’s indescribable knowing where they came from and the path they could have had if they weren’t adopted or stayed in the system,” Brodie said. “Watching Arianna dance under the Eiffel Tower, I know she would not get to have these experiences and thrive. That’s what I see. I don’t just see a happy kid dancing around the Eiffel Tower. I see a kid who has a completely different path in life because she is part of a family that can provide for her and love her and take her around the world. I can’t wait to see them grow up and choose what they want to do, and be that support along the way.”

If you feel a calling to provide a safe, stable home for a child in need, don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back! Give Child Crisis Arizona a call at (602) 385-7526 and get started today! 

Learn more about Foster Care and Adoption HERE.