VALRICO COMMUNITY HELPS DAVIS FAMILY PURCHASE SLEEPSAFE BED FOR THEIR DAUGHTER

By Lily Belcher

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

placement services as well as post-adoption support for families adopting from foster care.

Join of Adoptions Alliance supports children, families and birth parents through the entire adoption process and beyond. ance would not cover the cost of the bed Olivia needs.

In collaboration with Children’s Network of Hillsborough, Heart of Adoptions Alliance Inc. is hosting its first Adoption Skate Party on Friday, June 23 from 6-9 p.m. at Astro Skate Brandon. Along with a night of fun with skating and pizza, this event allows for children in foster care to meet with adoption-ready families in an organic way. By creating a fun and healthy environment, children and families alike are able to feel comfortable interacting and create connections.

A Valrico family was shocked by the outpouring of support they received after sharing their daughter’s story with a GoFundMe fundraiser.

To participate, families must have an approved and current adoption home study at the time of registration; this is an essential component of the adoption process. Families are encouraged to reach out to their home study coordinator and request a copy to be submitted.

Heart of Adoptions Alliance ofers domestic and international adoption

The organization has many online resources, including a blog with educational information and tips for families and expectant parents.

There is a tremendous need for families to adopt children from and working with Heart of Adoptions Alliance ensures you will be supported from the moment you decide to adopt.

“The future is grim for these children without our help and it is easy to comprehend that children can’t thrive without a loving and permanent home,” said Anthony Todaro, chief marketing ofcer at Heart of Adoptions Alliance. “In fact, they wind up in our criminal justice system, and mental health, teen pregnancy and homeless populations are in strong numbers.”

If you are looking to adopt or are an expectant parent seeking help, please call 813-559-0035, text 877-202-9624 or visit https://heartofadoptions.com/. If you are interested in attending the Skate Party, please request for your home study to be submitted to amanda@heartofadoptionsalliance.com.

Olivia Davis was born with Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder that impacts her cognitive and motor development. Diane and Ronald Davis, two Buckhorn Elementary teachers, turned to the Valrico community for support as their 13-year-old continues to grow.

“We were just floored that, within minutes of posting it, so many of our friends and colleagues and parents of students that we have had were just on it so fast. We were so humbled and just amazed at the support we got,” said Diane.

Olivia sufers from seizures that often result in her getting stuck in her bed as she sleeps. With Angelman syndrome, she cannot remove her arms or legs if they get stuck, and it is no longer safe for her to sleep in a normal bed.

“She doesn’t have the same ability to pull it in. … She doesn’t have the same instinct to correct that. Her movements are more rigid,” explained Diane.

Olivia’s parents looked into purchasing a SleepSafe bed, a bed made for those with special needs to prevent falls and entrapments. The problem was that their insur-

At the beginning of May, the Davis’s reached their goal on their GoFundMe to purchase the SleepSafe bed for Olivia. They then ordered the bed for their daughter, and it will likely arrive in June.

Diane has continued to teach kindergarten at Buckhorn Elementary School, but her husband has had to take a leave of absence to spend extra time with their daughter. Ronald helps take his daughter to school each morning, since it is difcult for Olivia to ride the school buses in her wheelchair. Olivia is a student at Burns Middle School and is enrolled in its ESE program.

“When you have a child with special needs, everything is a little more difcult, … but we’re thankful that it all worked out,” said Diane.

While they had reached their goal, Diane and Ronald decided to keep the GoFundMe page active to help cover additional expenses insurance will not cover, like getting new wheelchairs as their daughter grows.

“They’ve made it feel like home with all of their support and kindness,” Diane said about the Valrico community. “It’s a really good place to be.”