Adopted girl a beloved Christmas present for family
Published 12:01 am Friday, December 25, 2009
It’s a tradition for Eli and Collin Black to count the days until Christmas on a homemade paper chain. Not this year. The school-age brothers still made a paper chain, but their excitement wasn’t aimed at Dec. 25.
Their Everett family eagerly anticipated another date, and a priceless gift. On Monday, in Snohomish County Superior Court, the boys’ parents Darren and Mari Black adopted 19-month-old Makiah.
“They asked for nothing else for Christmas this year except for their baby sister,” Mari Black said of her boys, 9-year-old Collin and Eli, 11.
In the courtroom Monday, the brothers were allowed to sit with their friends in jurors’ seats as Judge George Appel made their larger family official.
The Blacks have been caring for Makiah as foster parents since she was a month old. Mari Black said she didn’t expect any change in her loving feelings once the adoption took place. Yet when Appel told them their daughter would from now on be Makiah Raven Black, Mari said she experienced nothing less than the incomparable joy of new motherhood.
“It was as close as I could get to giving birth,” the 33-year-old mother said.
Eli is also adopted. And Mari Black said that shortly after Collin was born she had to have a hysterectomy, and can no longer carry a child. “We wanted a little girl, but had to borrow one,” she said.
Darren Black, 38, who works in manufacturing engineering on the Boeing 787 line, and his wife decided several years ago to become foster parents through the state Department of Social and Health Services. Friends had been foster parents, and the Blacks felt called by their faith to bring children into their home.
The family belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Once the idea was there, every door opened,” Mari Black said.
Their earlier placements were short-term, and they believed that would be the case when Makiah came to their home.
Makiah was born addicted to drugs, Mari Black said. Early on, Makiah had seizures and a fragile immune system. Darren Black said that at a month old, she weighed fewer than 7 pounds. She’s been monitored monthly by the Pediatric Interim Care program at the Providence Children’s Center in Everett’s Providence Pavilion for Women and Children.
The program, under the purview of state Child Protective Services, serves children who have been exposed to drugs or alcohol before birth.
“She walked at 14 months, and didn’t sit until 10 months. She has graduated from all her programs,” Mari Black said. “She’s everything we ever dreamed of, and more.”
At home Tuesday, the spunky toddler basked in the attention of doting big brothers. “They come home from school, strip off their backpacks and run straight for Makiah,” Mari Black said.
There is a sad, sad aspect to this happy story.
Mari Black said that Makiah’s biological mother, who is in her 30s, initially made efforts to keep the child. “Her mom was wanting to participate in all the services,” said Black, who has had letters from the biological mother.
The woman has had six children. The oldest, Makiah’s 18-year-old half-sister, has a relationship with Makiah. The identity of Makiah’s biological father is unknown. In the end, Mari Black said, the mother chose to relinquish her rights to the child, as she had for her five other children.
“We still keep in touch through letters,” said Mari Black, who shared that the biological mother has written about one wish. “She said she wishes she could see all her children in one room for five minutes. That’s something I take for granted,” Mari Black said. “All parents love their children,” she added.
The woman’s parental rights were terminated in November. The Blacks said a state caseworker, their attorney Peter Andrus, and Judge Appel all helped with timing that made their holiday dream come true. “Everybody really worked hard so we can have a Christmas baby,” Mari Black said.
“Nothing will ever top this Christmas,” she said.
Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.
