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Foster child who received liver transplant adopted with siblings

Tribune Chronicle photos / Renee Fox Brooklyn Beauchene, 7, plays with bubbles minutes after a judge finalized her adoption on Friday. Known previously as Jaime, who received a liver transplant while in foster care, she was one of four siblings adopted by the Beauchene family. David Donovchek of Niles, behind her, donated a piece of his liver to the girl in 2015.

WARREN — The family that fostered a little girl who needed a liver transplant finalized the adoption of her and her brother Friday, along with two other families that welcomed three other children into their homes on Adoption Day.

Born with the name Jaime and biliary atresia, the girl would have died if not for a liver transplant at the age of 4. With her adoption, Jaime chose the name Brooklyn, and her brother chose the name London.

Brooklyn, 7, and London, 9, were adopted by Michelle and Don Beauchene, who already adopted their younger sisters, Lucy and Lilly. The couple also has six other children and are going to remain licensed foster care providers.

David Denovchek of Niles, a stranger, donated part of his liver to the girl after Trumbull County Children Services launched a campaign looking for a donor for her. He said it gives him great joy to see the little girl running around, wearing a Super Girl outfit and being full of energy.

The family is scheduled to appear on Good Morning America next week to talk about their journey.

The Beauchenes had to get a $90,000 addition to their Vienna home in order to adopt the siblings. While they waited for it to be complete, Brooklyn and London were only able to visit their sisters, who hugged them tightly after the adoption was finalized.

Trumbull County Probate Court Judge James A. Fredericka also finalized the adoption of Alayna, 1, by Kristin and Tom Gorse of Cortland; and Claire, 1, and Caleb, 2, a sister and brother, were adopted by Courtney and Kien Tran.

Tim Schaffner, executive director of Trumbull County Children Services said, “We believe that every child needs and deserves a forever home.”

There are over 120,000 children waiting for a permanent home, and the average time it takes for a child to be adopted is three years, while 20,000 kids age out of the system every year without ever finding a permanent home, according to a news release from Stacy Ferencik, community liaison for children services. Michelle Beauchene said the adoption process can take a lot of time, and there are some hoops to jump through, but it is all worth it.

“It was a long process, we started about two years ago, and to be here today is a relief,” she said. “But if you feel it in your heart, learn more about it. This wasn’t our original plan, but we had it in our hearts and it was worth it in the end.”

“The adoption took time; the love arrived instantly,” is the theme for this year’s National Adoption Month.

The Gorse family said they too plan on staying foster parents, and praised children services for helping them find Alayna. It was the addiction epidemic that got them involved.

“We knew we wanted to start a family, and we knew the addiction epidemic was really bad. We wanted to help, to help the kids and help the families,” Kristin Gorse said.

The children enjoyed celebrating with brunch at the Trumbull County Courthouse and a bubble party put on by Ralf Urbach, the facilitator of OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology.

Music was provided by Warren G. Harding High School students, and Hubbard High School students provided handmade decorations.

rfox@tribtoday.com

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