Statewide adoption day placed 63 children from the foster care system into 43 families Monday.
Final hearings happened in four counties, including in Horry County. Families from Florence, Darlington, Williamsburg and Horry added new members to their families at the courthouse in Conway.
12 children were adopted into nine families in Horry County.
For some families it’s been a long journey. “We started in 2016, so it’s felt like forever,” said new parents Chris Rexford and Steven Mathison.
They adopted 17 month old Xander after fostering him. They say the legal status changed, not the love. “Just knowing that he’s ours will make it different. Knowing that it’s just that much more special.”
Inside the courtroom parents answered if they would raise and love the children like their own. “You will have all the duties, obligations, responsibilities as if he were your biological child?” a judge asked.
Kisha and Franky Robinson answered with a wholehearted “yes.”
They say there is not a day where Franky Jr. hasn’t felt like their own. They named him after his dad to reflect that.
“Growing up with my dad and doing things with my dad I get to do the same with him,” Franky Sr. said.
This Thanksgiving the Robinsons say they have a little extra to be thankful for.
“I’m just full with thinking about it, the mere thought of it,” Kisha said. “So I’m just gonna take it all in and enjoy.”
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a proclamation declaring November 19 as Statewide Adoption Day.
The state still stresses the need for more foster and adoptive parents. Around 600 kids in South Carolina are available for adoption through the foster care system.
