Today, 18-month-old Levi is thriving, happy and exceeding milestones.
But that wasn’t always the case. When Levi was born, he was immediately placed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to drug exposure in utero.
While in the hospital, Jolene and Hunter visited him for the first time and began the process to become his foster parents.
“[Levi] was going through some pretty serious withdrawals,” Hunter shares. “The nurses told us it was the worst drug exposure they’ve seen in a baby. [He went] through withdrawals for two full months.”
At two months old, he was released from the hospital and went home with Jolene and Hunter. His first few months in his new home were sometimes difficult, but Jolene and Hunter were ready to provide extra love and cuddles.
“Caring for him became very easy and second nature,” Jolene explains.
In time, Levi began to flourish thanks to the safety and attention his foster parents provided.
“He just needed that attachment and love, and it worked,” Jolene shares. “He went from extremely delayed in milestones to exceeding [them].”
And at 18 months old, Levi was officially adopted and gained a forever family with Jolene and Hunter. The couple looks forward to providing a home and loving care to more children through DePelchin.
“The resources that you have [given] us [have] been super impactful,” Hunter says to donors like you.