Just the sweetest story!
A 10-year old girl, who has special needs, was gearing up for the day she was to be formally adopted.
However, her adoption hearing happened to fall on another important day: the first day of school. So rather than have her miss out, in an amazing gesture, her school came to the courtroom with her!
Two dozen students and four staff from St. Coletta Day School in Milwaukee in the US – which caters for kids with special needs – turned up at the courtroom to cheer on their friend as she changed from Abby Turner to Abby Novotny, reports TODAY.
“Many hadn't seen her until our last day on June 10 so they were very excited,” St. Coletta administrator Bill Kuehn told TODAY. “There were hugs and high fives. It was a little difficult for Abby to focus with all the attention, but she certainly had every understanding that this day was all about her.”
And Abby’s mum Anne said the school’s fantastic gesture filled her daughter with joy.
“When I told her they were going to be at the adoption, she was so happy she almost cried,” she said. “For a 10-year-old who's lower functioning to know the importance of it – I saw nothing but pure joy for her.”
Anne, who adopted seven children before Abby, says the little girl was over the moon to have her new name – and of course was quick to inform her teacher!
“At the end of the court hearing she said to her teacher, ‘Did you put ‘Abby Novotny’ on my desk yet?’ She is so thrilled to be Abby Novotny officially.”
Such a wonderful story of community and friendship – we can’t stop smiling!
