GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – 13-year-old Ashley is one of nearly 3,000 children available for adoption in the Michigan foster care system – just waiting for a forever home. She has already been through what no child should.
“Her mother did pass away when she was a very young age,” adoption worker Caitlin Dombrowski says. “She has been in the system for a couple of years and she is separated from her siblings.”
Ashley desperately misses her three brothers and mom, living in the instability of placement homes and foster care.
“I don’t like moving around a lot, like moving around from place to place,” Ashley says.
She’s an artist and comedian and if Ashley could do one thing in life, she says she wants to go to Build-A-Bear.
“I’ve never been there but I’ve seen other things people make and I really want to go there,” she says.
Ashley says she’s not picky about her new family, but craves the love of a mother – something that was tragically taken from her far too soon.
She says she wants a family that shows love and appreciation.
But through it all, Ashley is growing into her own. Now she just needs a family to help her the rest of the way.
“She’s been thorough a lot of trauma and loss and grief and she’s really maturing into a fine young woman,” Dombrowski says. “She`s a little spitfire. She’s a sweet caring young lady.”
Dombrowski says there’s a perfect family for every child out there; it’s just about finding them.
If you’d like to adopt Ashley or another child call 855-694-7301.
Update: After Ashley’s story aired we had several requests from viewers interested in donating for Ashley to go to Build-A-Bear.
Any donations can be sent to:
Dana Wright
Orchards Children’s Services
24901 Northwestern Hwy.
Suite 500
Southfield, MI 48075
