Thanksgiving meals and Black Friday had come and gone, but a lifelong bond between several children and their adoptive parents was just beginning.
The Schenectady County Office of Children and Family Services and the county Family Court held an Adoption Day celebration and annual Adoption Tree Lighting on Monday, Nov. 28, outside of the county offices in Schenectady.
The tree is decorated in recognition of National Adoption Month (November) and families who have adopted children in the past year. The day also had 15 adoptions being finalized, making for a total of 35 adoptions for the county so far this year. An additional five adoptions are expected to be finalized before year’s end.
All the new families were celebrated at the event.
“All I can say is ‘Wow,’ we have a lot to be thankful for in Schenectady County this year,” said Lori Pirrone, adoption unit supervisor for the county. “I want to thank every one of you who’s come out today to support us. This is the biggest gathering we have had.”
Pirrone gave some statistics about adoptions this year and said five sibling groups of two were kept together, one sibling group of three was kept together and a medically fragile child, Constance, was adopted on Nov. 28.
“Most importantly, I want to thank the families that come forward for our children. You are our heroes and our children are so grateful for what you are providing for them,” said Pirrone.
Gary Gugliuzza of Johnstown is the adoptive father of Constance, and he said his wife, Laurel, had worked in the hospital where “Connie” stayed. He said his wife developed a special relationship with Constance. Since his wife is a nurse, he said she has had experience with fragile children.
“Connie would recognize Laurel’s voice when she would come in and make a happy sound, so we arranged for fostering parenting,” said Gugliuzza. “We were thinking about adoption and Connie got sick and actually had to be hospitalized again. In the meantime we wanted to be able to advocate for her and bring her home when she is able to.”
Gugliuzza said it is a give and take relationship with Connie and she has the need for attention and love, which his wife and him are happy to provide.
“When she is home she knows she is part of the family,” he said. “She is just very loving and she just appreciates being with us. … There is no chance now that we have to give her up to someone else and that’s good.”
Family Court Judge Eli Taub said he is always happy when a permanency hearing isn’t going to be held, because the child was adopted and has a place to call home.
“The most unsettling thing for a child is to be moved from place to place and not to know where they’re at and where they are going to be and having the feeling then of being unwanted,” said Taub. “What you have done for these children is give them the feeling and the knowledge that they’re wanted that they’re loved … you have given them life itself.”
Schenectady County Legislator Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, said he is an adoptive parent and shared a story with fellow adoptive parents.
“I’m sure this has happened to you at some point where you have someone say, ‘Oh, your children are adopted, aren’t you wonderful what a wonderful thing you have done,’” said Hughes. “I always say to that, ‘Well, actually as an adoptive parent we are the people that are really getting the wonder out of this. We are the people that are enjoying the magic of these children.”
Dennis Packard, commissioner of the county’s Department of Social Services, said he looks forward to the day he can “turn the lights off,” because no more children are up for adoption.
“Until that day comes, we need more people like you,” said Packard. “This is a true day of Thanksgiving for all of you.”
For information on how to adopt a child visit www.SchenectadyCounty.com or call the county’s adoption services at 388-4736. The county is also holding several Foster Care and Adoption Informational Sessions in upcoming months, with the next session on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Schenectady County Office of Children & Family Services at 106 Erie Blvd., Schenectady.
