Families attend annual adoption day celebration

When Sheena Johnson's daughter Neenah was born, she soon realized that the little girl's medical problems were daunting.

Neenah, now 2½, was medically fragile and born with Down syndrome. At the age of 8 months, Neenah was diagnosed with failure to thrive by a local hospital when she was admitted weighing 10 pounds. She also suffered from a respiratory virus and heart defects.

Johnson turned Neenah over to the foster care system hoping to find someone who was better able to handle her daughter's medical challenges. She found that person in Barbara Dillon.

"The birth mother couldn't handle the situation and she asked for help," Dillon said. Over the years, Dillon has fostered about 30 children.

Dillon said she was a bit surprised and touched that a few days after meeting Johnson, Johnson asked her if she would consider adopting Neenah.

"I hoped she would be willing," Johnson said. "She was very kind to me, very generous." Johnson said she knew that Dillon would be able to care for Neenah.

"She was this dear little baby," Johnson said. "After I had her for a few months, I knew I could never let her go."

On Saturday, with Johnson at their side, Barbara and her husband, Travis Dillon, adopted Neenah at the Judicial Center in Manassas during the Sixth Annual Greater Prince William Area National Adoption Day Celebration.

Johnson said, with a couple of tears in her eyes, that she was happy. She lives in the same Dale City neighborhood as the Dillons and is able to visit Neenah often and plans to remain part of her life. "I couldn't have prayed for a better arrangement," she said.

Barbara and Travis Dillon hugged Neenah often during the ceremony and remarked that Neenah's health continues to improve.

The love they have for their new daughter was evident. So was the families' love for the other 18 children who participated in the adoption celebration.

"I am awed by the sacrificies you families are making to bring in these children. I am in awe, honored and humbled to be around so many wonderful people," said Ann Wheeler, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Social Services.

The celebration was held in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Richard B. Potter of the 31st Judicial District. The families filled the courtroom and spilled into the hallway.

"Yesterday you were a member of the household," Potter said to the children. "Today you are a member of the family."

Potter listed off numerous famous Americans who were adopted: Edgar Allen Poe, Eartha Kitt, Faith Hill, Demi Moore, Malcom X, George Lucas, Jamie Fox and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford. He also listed famous adoptive parents: Patti LaBelle, Willie Mays, Magic Johnson, Sharon Stone, Meg Ryan and Walt Disney.

To the adopted children and the adoptive parents, Potter said, "Remember the sky is the limit."

Potter signed the final adoption papers for many of the children present. Other children who were celebrated either had their adoptions recently finalized or were close to having it finalized. All families were presented with a certificate of participation in National Adoption Day.

National Adoption Day was created to celebrate adoptions and encourage more people to give permanent homes to children in foster care.

In the United States, there are about 510,000 children in foster care and 129,000 of them are waiting to be adopted. More than 130 children in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park live in foster care and many of them are available for adoption.

David and Kimberly Mabry have two adopted children and are in the final process of adopting three more -- siblings.

"We always say that adoption is God's grace. It is the grace of God to parents like us who have not given birth to our children to feel that bond," Kimberly Mabry said.

"We always tell our children, 'You were born in our hearts and you will always be our children,'" she said. "Families are created in different ways. This is how our family was created.

"We want to encourage others to consider adoption as a viable option if they would like to have a family," she said.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.<p>