Many children in foster care dream of finding a permanent family. But for those who grow older in the system, that dream often fades as the years pass. One young woman’s story shows that sometimes family can come at the most unexpected time, even in adulthood.
In 2021, a powerful story from Florida, United States, captured hearts when Leah Paskalides, a caseworker with the Safe Children Coalition, officially adopted a young woman named Monyay, who was already 19 years old. The adoption proved something many people don’t realize: yes, it is possible to be adopted as an adult.
Key Takeaways
- Adult adoption is legally possible and can create permanent family bonds even later in life.
- Leah Paskalides adopted Monyay at age 19 after knowing her for nearly a decade.
- The adoption became official on April 27, 2021 in Florida.
- The story highlights the challenges many young people face when aging out of foster care.
- It also shows that family is not always defined by biology, it can be built through love and commitment.
Monyay entered the foster care system at age 11 and was placed in a group home. Like many children in foster care, she struggled with the emotional toll of growing up without a permanent family.
By the time she reached her senior year of high school, the weight of that reality felt overwhelming.
She later explained that during that time she went through a very difficult moment, feeling like she didn’t want to keep going anymore. Despite those struggles, she pushed forward and even graduated high school a year early. Instead of slowing down, she began volunteering with other foster children, hoping to support kids who were going through similar experiences.
But another challenge was approaching quickly.
At 18 years old, Monyay would officially age out of the foster care system, meaning she would have to enter adulthood without a permanent support system.
During those years in foster care, Monyay formed a close bond with her caseworker, Leah Paskalides. Leah had been working with her through the Safe Children Coalition and quickly saw her determination and potential.
Over time, Monyay would often say something simple but heartbreaking:
“I wish you could adopt me.”
Leah wanted the same thing. But because she was Monyay’s caseworker, adopting her while she was still in the foster system would have been considered a conflict of interest.
So the adoption couldn’t happen.
Despite that limitation, the two continued building a strong relationship that lasted for years.
Everything changed when Leah watched a documentary about someone being adopted as an adult. Until that moment, she hadn’t even realized that adult adoption was legally possible.
The idea immediately stuck with her.
She approached Monyay and asked whether she would want to be adopted once she was legally an adult. Monyay’s answer was immediate: yes.
For Leah, the motivation was simple. She wanted Monyay to know that she was loved and wanted, something every child deserves to feel.
“It was important to me that she knew somebody loved her,” Leah later explained.
After years of waiting, the moment finally arrived.
On April 27, 2021, a judge signed the official paperwork, legally making Monyay Paskalides Leah’s daughter.
One of the most emotional parts of the hearing came when the court asked Monyay which last name she wanted to use.
Her answer was simple: Paskalides.
Both mother and daughter reportedly broke into tears as the adoption became official.
For Monyay, hearing the word “mom” in that courtroom was something she had waited for her entire life.
Interestingly, their relationship didn’t start smoothly.
When Leah was first assigned to Monyay’s case years earlier, the teenager didn’t like her at all. Monyay later joked that she made that very clear at the beginning.
But over nearly nine years, their relationship transformed into a deep bond built on trust, mentorship, and care.
Leah saw something special in Monyay from the beginning.
“She was very motivated and had aspirations for a future,” she explained. “She just needed support.”
Stories like this also highlight a larger issue within the foster care system.
According to the Children’s Home Society of Minnesota, about 23,000 young people age out of foster care each year in the United States without permanent families. Many face significant challenges afterward, including poverty, substance abuse, and lack of educational support.
Adult adoption can provide emotional and legal security for people who grew up without stable family connections.
For Monyay, it meant finally having the one thing she always wanted: a family that chose her.
Comments across social media reflected how deeply the story resonated.
YouTube
“A family is made of love. Love knows no color or age.”
“This will bring so much healing to the young lady.”
Twitter / X
“This is proof it’s never too late to find your family.”
Many viewers said the story reminded them that family isn’t defined by timing, it’s defined by love.
Stories like this remind us that belonging can arrive at any stage of life. If this story moved you, share it with someone who believes family is built through love, not just biology.
For more inspiring stories about resilience, kindness, and the power of human connection, keep reading Simply Wholesome.
Leave a comment