According to statistics, there are over 100,000 foster children who are eligible for and waiting to have a new family to call their own.
Cole and Jordan Dickerson used to be a part of the overwhelming number of people on the wait list for adoption.
The loving couple had always dreamed of raising their own family. And both of them are very open to the idea of adopting a child who is looking for a new home.
When Jordan Dickerson crossed paths with Jeremiah, Jordan felt a strong connection with the child that she was more than willing to be a nurturing mother for him.
Jordan met Jeremiah at the Le Bonheur Child Children’s Hospital where she works as a pediatric nurse.
“We fell in love with his smile and his joy,” Jordan recalled the moment she made a connection with Jeremiah. “We just knew he was going to fit in our family. There was no denying it.”
As it turned out, Jeremiah was staying at the children’s hospital because of his medical condition. During that time, Jeremiah was looking for a family that can assist him with the trach tube he wore.
“I knew there was something different about him,” Jordan added how she convinced her supportive husband to adopt Jeremiah.
“I couldn’t get him out of my head. I called my husband and said, ‘Pray that we can bring Jeremiah home.'”
Thus, when Jordan and Cole found out that Jeremiah had already gone home with a foster family, their hearts were broken by the disappointment they felt.
“I knew that he was supposed to be our son, so I was confused and upset,” Jordan shared her sentiments upon receiving the unfortunate news.
However, it seems that the odds are on their favor. In an emotional yet inspiring post on the Love What Matters page, Cole shared the long but beautiful journey he and Jordan experienced before having the family they were dreaming of.
“My wife Jordan works at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. One day she told me there is the cutest little boy there right now. She said he’s only there because he doesn’t have a family to take care of him. It was only a couple of weeks later when I got a text while I was at work that said, ‘Babe, will you seriously pray and think about something?!’ Immediately my heart pounds because I knew this must be something serious on her heart.
We both had talked about how passionate we were about adopting and desired to do it one day. We talked, prayed, and decided to begin the foster parent classes that were required by the organization he was involved with. We talked with DCS and it seemed nearly impossible to begin the foster-to-adopt process for a specific child that you’re not yet related to. It would have to take a miracle… the rest of the story is nothing short of just that.
During the process, another couple came and began fostering him which totally hit us hard emotionally because we had made a connection with him already. We were disappointed and upset but decided to continue the classes to be future foster parents and true parents to a child someday…” Cole narrated the post he had written and shared in Love What Matters.
“Two weeks later, while we were on our 1-year anniversary trip, someone from Jordan’s work called and told her Jeremiah had been brought back to the hospital for medical reasons and the couple was not going to be able to continue caring for him for their own reasons. We immediately busted out in tears and knew this was the work of God and that we would one day be a family.
When we got back from our trip, his social worker wanted to meet Jordan at Le Bonheur to make sure we were serious about fostering to adopt. After going through legal, medical and fostering classes, we were finally able to bring our boy home in June 2017.
And on July 16, 2018, we officially were able to adopt our son!”
Fortunately for Cole and Jordan, the universe seems to be on their side! After waiting patiently and enduring the long and painful process of adoption, Jeremiah has finally and officially become their son!
But wait- there’s more to their heartwarming story. On the same post, Cole also shared a detailed narration of the day they found out that Jeremiah would soon become an older brother.
“Back up to April 2018, Jeremiah was praying one night. He said, ‘Thank you God for God, for Jesus, for my Mommy and Daddy, and my baby sister in a couple of weeks, Amen.’ We looked at each other like, ‘What did he just say?! Not really how it works, bud.’
Just a couple of weeks later is when we surprisingly found out Jeremiah was going to be having a baby brother or sister! Fast forward to today, HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE BABY SISTER! We just found out yesterday!
The Miracle Worker continues to do work, and we’re so thankful to be a family.”
On July 16, 2018, Cole and Jordan’s family and friends gathered at the courthouse to celebrate the day Jeremiah has officially become a part of the Dickerson family.
On the same day, the family happily posed for a photo to commemorate an unforgettable moment in their life.
With a big smile painted on his face, Jeremiah proudly held the sign that read, “Today I became a Dickerson. Up next… big brother.”
Watch the emotional and truly inspiring video below to learn more about the beautiful story behind the Dickerson’s happy family!
Photos and Video | Good Morning America and Jordan Dickerson