“Kassi’s Krewe”

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mlnorvxt2sozdj9/cassie%20%284%29.jpg?dl=0

We are the Cogan Family and we are honored to have been chosen to bring sweet Kassi home at last!  She has waited so long- almost too long, as she ages out in July!  We are counting the days, hoping and praying that we will not be too late.  You see, where she is, children in orphanages “age out” on their 14th birthday.  On that day, instead of celebrating another year of their life, they mourn the loss of the possibility of ever having a family of their own.  If we are even one day too late, it is too late forever.

We saw Kassi on Wonderful Waiting Kids, an advocacy site that helps to find families for children that are older or have more significant needs.  We follow the children’s stories and pray for them as they wait for a family.  We keep their faces in our minds and their stories in our hearts and we love them from afar.  Because they all deserve love.  We were struck by the strength and beauty that came across in Kassi’s short video.  We were just blown away by her and knew that we would love the chance to be her family but we would be starting at square one and there were only months left.  We prayed for her family to find her.  There are far too many children aging out and we pray for all of them to find their forever place, but for us, at this time, it was Kassi that was foremost in our hearts.  We started to wonder whether we were her family and the questions began to be answered bit by bit.  We found out that with an expedited adoption, although difficult, it could be possible.  We still felt unsure of the timing, the money….  We continued prayerfully to ask for guidance.  We put up a grant hoping that someone was closer in the process and we might be the help that they needed.  More phone calls, more prayers.  We just couldn’t imagine how… and then we saw a video in which she talks about wanting a home and describes the family.  We felt like she was talking directly to us.  We had our answers.  We knew in our hearts.  We would listen and do everything in our power to get her home with her family - this family! 

We have three children given to us through adoption and they have very similar reasons to see our fabulous team of medical helpers.  In fact, we have everything already in place for her medically and, although we can have no guarantees, there is every hope that her daily life can be so much easier and more pain free.  Of course our greatest hope is that she can someday stand straight and tall on her sweet feet.  You see, Kassi has CP and two precious feet that she struggles to walk on even with her walker.  Make no mistake though, we will feel so very blessed and proud to be able to truly call ourselves “Kassi’s Krewe”, no matter what!

We are counting down the days until her birthday and there just aren’t that many!  We weren’t planning on this journey at this time but we feel that we are being led down this path and all will be well.  We are doing a twelve month process in just 3 months.  Because of this, we only have 3 months to come up with the $30,000 for the adoption and our timing won't allow for much grant support.  We are equally grateful for support of any kind whether it be through thoughts and prayers, fundraising or funds.       

*Password for all pictures is: kassi