(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The 10th Judicial District celebrated National Adoption Day for the 16th year in a row on Friday, Nov. 22.
This year, the district celebrated at the Pueblo County Courthouse, where three families adopted three children.
“Today is such an important day to myself and my whole team, it is really the fruition of all the hard work that the Pueblo County Department of Human Services caseworkers put into our community,” said Sabrina Miller, a Supervisor with Pueblo County Department of Human Services. “This is a day of celebration and joy.”
Sarah Walkgenbach was one of the families who added a new member today. She said her journey to become a foster parent during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in Oct. 2023 she was certified.
Walkgenbach says that three days after she was certified, she received a call asking if she would take a newborn from the hospital.
“It was kind of a panic moment,” Walkgenbach said. “My village rallied and helped me get everything because I had nothing for newborns only for older kids and within 24 hours I had everything that I needed to bring him home.”
On Nov. 22, Walkgenbach made it official and adopted that newborn, who is now 13 months old. Walkgenbach added she was ‘excited’ and ‘happy’ over the adoption.
Anastasia and Elijah Gonzales-Morales also became the forever parents of a 1-year-old boy on Friday. Elijah says they had always wanted to do foster or adopt.
“It was a rollercoaster ride, there were emotions and we got attached since day one,” said Elijah. “I believe he was God’s blessing and gift to us as we are to him.”
Anastasia said she grew up around foster family and is excited about the adoption. To celebrate, the couple said they would spend time with four generations of family and go out to eat later in the day.
