Court Finalizes Adoptions; 8 Children Get New Families

COURT HOUSE – Three-year-old “Princess Savannah” Siekierski officially found her forever home Nov. 17  in Court House when the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage 1 held its National Adoption Day at Superior Court, Family Division.
Savannah joined seven other children in Cape May County who gathered with their new families and friends to celebrate the final step in a long and arduous process of adoption. 
According to a press release by the court, this is part of an “Annual event in which courts and communities in all 50 states join to finalize thousands of adoptions and to celebrate families who adopt.” Assignment Judge Julio L. Mendez and Judge M. Susan Sheppard presided over the final court orders after speaking to the overflowing jury assembly room. It held surrogates, attorneys and, most importantly, children and their new families.
Savannah Anne Marie Siekierski couldn’t sit still during the introductory speeches. She roamed the room before encountering “Officer McGruff” who held her transfixed while trying to figure out if he was real or not.
Mother Kristi, a nurse who provides health services in the county, and construction worker husband Eric, explained that Savannah came to them through a friend.
Kristi Siekierski related that a friend was fostering Savannah because her biological parents were unable to care for her. She explained that the state Child Protection and Permanency Division required that Savannah be adopted if possible.
She and her husband decided to take her to add to their current family of four including two biological children.
Eric then proved that Savannah truly was royalty when he called to her and asked: “Who’s Daddy’s princess?”
Savannah giggled and immediately pointed to her new father.
Anyone wishing to learn more about the myths and realities of adoption may log on to http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.