{"id":2980,"date":"2023-11-22T20:07:39","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T20:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storypress.site\/?p=2980"},"modified":"2023-11-22T20:07:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T20:07:39","slug":"17-yr-old-is-hours-away-from-aging-out-of-foster-care-when-couple-officially-adopts-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storypress.site\/?p=2980","title":{"rendered":"17-yr-old is hours away from aging out of foster care when couple officially adopts him"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the city of Green Cove Springs, Florida, a young man named Roman Balassaitis received the most extraordinary birthday gift just hours before turning 18 \u2013 a loving, permanent family.<\/p>\n

Roman\u2019s adoption by Renee and Brad Balassaitis, a couple with a profound commitment to foster care, marked a pivotal moment in his life, transforming his future from uncertainty to one filled with hope and love.<\/p>\n

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SOURCE:YOUTUBE \u2013 FIRST COAST NEWS<\/p>\n

Roman\u2019s journey to this joyful day was not an easy one.
\nHaving moved through 19 different homes since age 11, his life was full of instability and change.<\/p>\n

And as we know, being in the foster care system can be very difficult for children, who often dream of having forever homes of their own.<\/p>\n

Everything shifted for Roman when he met the Balassaitis family.
\nRenee and Brad, who have fostered about 20 children and adopted seven others, saw in Roman a resilient spirit deserving of a forever family.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was sweating bad. My heart was beating. I was very happy,\u201d Roman told First Coast News, encapsulating the overwhelming emotions of the day.<\/p>\n

The urgency of Roman\u2019s adoption was because of the ticking clock of his 18th birthday.
\nIn Florida, as in many states, the opportunity for state-supported adoption disappears at 18, a reality faced by 60% of children in the state\u2019s foster care system, according to the University of Florida.<\/p>\n

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SOURCE:YOUTUBE \u2013 FIRST COAST NEWS<\/p>\n

This often leads to homelessness and a life of uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo now we know we have nine kids, officially,\u201d Brad happily shared, reflecting on the significance of Roman\u2019s adoption just in the nick of time.<\/p>\n

The Balassaitis family\u2019s journey with Roman began when he first stayed with them at the age of 12.
\nDespite the initial challenges, including Roman\u2019s fear of abandonment, the family\u2019s love and persistence eventually won.<\/p>\n

Years later, a chance reconnection through social media led Roman back to the Balassaitis home, culminating in his adoption.<\/p>\n

Renee couldn\u2019t be happier to officially be Roman\u2019s mom.
\nShe told First Coast News:<\/p>\n

\u201cI know he\u2019s very relieved. We\u2019re relieved. He\u2019s going to do so well. He just needed to know people believed in him, and he was wanted and chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n

This sentiment resonates with many children in foster care, especially older ones, who often feel overlooked and undervalued.<\/p>\n

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SOURCE:YOUTUBE \u2013 FIRST COAST NEWS<\/p>\n

Roman\u2019s story is a reminder of the countless teenagers in the United States who yearn for a similar happy ending.
\nThe statistics are sobering: many, like Roman, face the prospect of aging out of the system without the support and love of a family.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, Roman\u2019s story inspires others to consider fostering or adoption and help change a life.<\/p>\n

While being a foster parent isn\u2019t always easy, it\u2019s worth it.
\nThe Balassaitis don\u2019t sugarcoat the difficulties, having navigated complex issues like schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder in their foster children.<\/p>\n

Yet, they consider their journey the most rewarding of their lives, driven by a deep sense of purpose and faith.<\/p>\n