Forever yours: Families welcome 23 foster kids on adoption day

Published 11:03 pm Friday, June 20, 2008

EVERETT — Two-year-old Chloe chased a green balloon through the courtroom, unaware that her identity was about to change — forever.

Mick Vigoren scooped the giggling girl into his arms and, teary-eyed, carried her to the front of the courtroom.

His family was about to become whole.

Standing before a judge, Chloe’s curly brown head leaning on his chest, Vigoren said he wanted to adopt the “little princess.” His wife, Patti Vigoren, vowed to care for the baby she had loved since she was 8 days old.

“Do you understand this is a lifelong commitment to raise her to adulthood and beyond?” attorney Deane Minor asked.

“Forever,” Patti Vigoren replied.

They asked the judge to legally give Chloe their last name and the middle name shared by her new mom and grandma, Ann. The judge agreed.

“She’s ours,” Mick Vigoren said, holding his daughter tight. “We can raise her as ours. She’s going to be one of the family. We’ve got to get her through high school and college. I’ll be 62 and coaching soccer. I’ll have to play with my cane.”

Chloe was one of 23 foster kids adopted Friday at the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, as part of a daylong adoption celebration. Adoptions occurred every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Throughout the day, the courtroom was filled with teary parents and beaming children.

“It’s my best day,” Minor said. “You’re helping so many people accomplish something that’s so important to the children.”

Surrounded by family and friends, John and Lea Coats adopted 4-year-old Hillary. She came to them three years ago after stays with six different foster families. She cried — a lot — and didn’t sleep much. For the first two weeks, Lea Coats rocked the baby all night long, hoping to soothe her.

Since then, the Coatses have watched her grow into a boisterous girl who sleeps in a monkey-themed bed, dances in princess costumes and loves playing with dolls.

On Friday, Hillary clung to her new parents. She nestled her head on her dad’s shoulder and kissed her mom’s cheek.

“We’ve always treated her like our own from Day One,” John Coats said, watching Hillary play with the couple’s two biological children. “At the same time, you always wonder, ‘Is the door open? Will (there be) any problems.’ Now it’s nailed shut.”

Mick and Patti Vigoren never planned to adopt.

They had three kids of their own when the phone rang. A social worker asked if they’d take care of Patti Vigoren’s nephew’s newborn while her parents worked through some issues.

They fell in love with the quiet baby.

The Vigorens’ youngest son, Cody, now 11, learned to change diapers and give baths. Though the diapers were stinky, he treasured the responsibility and loved reading peek-a-boo books to Chloe. The little girl belongs with his family, he said.

“I wouldn’t be able to let her go,” he said.

The Vigorens’ siblings, both grown, and extended family showered Chloe with kisses and sparkly pink bracelets and necklaces.

She took the bracelets off, one at a time, Friday while Judge Linda Krese decided her fate.

Her tiny purple heart-shaped earrings sparkled. Her parents gave her the earrings Friday so Chloe would always know she has their hearts.

“Adoption signifies forever,” Patti Vigoren said. “She’s one of us.”

After a short ceremony, the Vigorens gathered around Krese and smiled for photos. They left and headed down the hall, Chloe’s tiny hand inside her mom’s.

She was finally theirs.

They were finally hers.

Forever.

Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.