Ten-month-old Gianna Gonzalez of Perth Amboy, left, wears a “Team Jacob” shirt in support of her newly adopted brother, Jacob, 18 months old, during the annual Adoption Day ceremony. For Sylvia Soto and Osilis Gonzales, of Perth Amboy, their journey to adoption began with the loss of a son.
“After problems conceiving, we started fostering children,” said Soto.
The couple has two biological daughters, Janelis and Gianna, and on National Adoption Day Nov. 18, the couple finalized their adoption of 18-month-old Jacob.
“He was in the hospital for 20 days without a name,” said Sylvia.
The couple were joined by members of their extended family, who wore creative T-shirts that spelled out Jacob — J for “Joined by Love,” A for “A Dream Come True,” C for “Chosen,” O for “Ours Forever” and B for “Blessed.” Other members of the family wore Superman type T-shirts using the letter J instead of S.
Master of Ceremonies James Nolan shares a tender moment with his adopted daughter Olivia during his speech to the crowd at the annual Adoption Day ceremony at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick on Nov. 18. PHOTOS BY REBECCA NOWALSKI The backs of the T-shirts read “#Team Jacob.”
An adoption ceremony was held at the Middlesex County Courthouse on Nov. 18 where eight families finalized adoptions for nine children.
James P. Nolan Jr., who celebrated the adoption of his daughter Olivia with his wife Bonnie in 2011, served as master of ceremonies.
He was joined by New Jersey Superior Court Judge Travis L. Francis, New Jersey Family Court Judge Deborah J. Venezia, Middlesex County Surrogate Kevin J. Hoagland and members of the state Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).
Judy, Jake and George Dehler, right, all of South River, attend the annual Adoption Day ceremony. “Over 100,000 children are in foster care,” he said.
Nolan said the adoption process is an expensive one and takes an emotional toll; however, it is a blessing at the end.
“I know what it is like,” he told the families. “It is many years of happiness and joy.”
Judge Francis described National Adoption Day as magical and said with the recent media reports of constant strife and negativity, it is great to report on families that are opening their homes and hearts to enhance and enrich the lives of children.
“Everyone leaves here with smiles,” he said. Lisa von Pier, assistant commissioner with child protection and permanency for the Department of Children and Families, said the eight families finalizing their adoptions are living examples that love has no boundaries.
Judge Venezia, who took over the job of overseeing adoptions in Middlesex County from retired Superior Court Judge Robert Figarotta this past year, said now she understands the emotional aspect that Figarotta always spoke about.
“A finalization of an adoption process is one of the happiest days in the courthouse,” she said. “It can be overwhelming, and many in our office end up with tears in their eyes.”
New Brunswick Police Detective Michael Coppola shared his journey as an adoptive child of parents who traveled to a Colombian orphanage in 1977.
“It was a game of ‘eeny, meeny, miny, moe’ and I was the lucky one,” said Coppola, whose comments brought laughter in the courtroom.
Coppola would become the eldest of siblings of mixed cultures from Chinese and Korean to Polish after his parents divorced and both remarried.
“My adoptive family is my family,” he said, adding that he is grateful for the love, nurturing and loyalty that his family has given him.
Coppola said growing up, he always knew that he was adopted and felt a sense of pride about the status. He said when asked if he would want to find his birth parents, he replied that he has “enough parents.”
Anthony and Juana Canna, of North Brunswick, finalized the adoption of their 13-year-old son Gian, who came to them from the Philippines. The Cannas are also parents to Luke, 10, whom they adopted from China when he was 8 years old, as well as two biological children.
Juana said she and her husband credit their Christian faith in opening their hearts to international orphanages.
“Adoption is one decision that one will not regret,” she said. “It can be rough, but it has its rewards. I cannot imagine my life without [Gian and Luke].”
George Dehner, of South River, adopted Jake, now 7 years old, in 2009.
“My wife passed away in November 2009 and we never were able to have children,” said Dehner.
In 2010, Dehner met Judy, who was also widowed, and they have since married. On Nov. 18, Judy finalized her adoption of Jake.
“I have four children ranging from 20 to 26 from my previous marriage,” said Judy. “I met Jake when he was two years old and I fell in love.”
Jake was all smiles at the Adoption Day ceremony. He proudly announced that he is an uncle to the children of Judy’s two daughters.
Dennis and Tara Carroll, of Norfolk, Va., finalized the adoption of 22-month-old Julia.
They are already parents to three boys, ages 9, 4, and 3. The four children all have the same biological mother, who is from New Jersey.
Tara said after not being able to conceive, she learned of the adoption process.
“It is a beautiful experience,” she said.
For more information on adoption, call 1-800-99-ADOPT or visit the DYFS adoption website at www.njadopt.org.