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Event allows kids to be ‘Home for the Holdays’

Wesley LeBlanc
Posted 12/20/17

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Heidi Henrikson and her husband, Steve Henrikson, have had five children together in their 37-year-long marriage. For many families, five children may seem like too many, but …

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Event allows kids to be ‘Home for the Holdays’


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Heidi Henrikson and her husband, Steve Henrikson, have had five children together in their 37-year-long marriage. For many families, five children may seem like too many, but for the Henriksons, it was just the beginning. On Dec. 15, they welcomed another seven children into their family.

While many had already been with the family for years – some almost their entire lives – it wasn’t until this day that those seven officially became Henriksons.

This massive adoption, which was held at the Clay County Courthouse, is part of Home for the Holidays, a nationally recognized event where adoption agencies try to complete as many adoptions as possible to ensure kids have a house to call home for the holidays. This year marks Clay County’s first time participating in the event, according to Jessica Pomar, an adoption specialist for Kids First of Florida, the nonprofit agency that coordinates foster care and adoptions for Clay County.

When Diana was born, her mother was unable to take care of her. Born mentally handicapped, Diana’s development lags behind her age and despite her being 21, Heidi says Diana has the mind of someone younger. At three months old, Diana’s biological mom gave up her rights to guardianship over Diana. Shortly after, Heidi and Steve became Diana’s foster parents.

Dustin, 14, Alex, 12 and Destiny, 10, were taken under the Henriksons’ wing in 2008 after the children suffered through a physically abusive household under Heidi’s niece. Heidi’s niece had another daughter, Abby, 9, who later joined her brothers and sisters in the Henrikson home.

The mother of Shelby, 9, no longer wanted her and rather than turn over guardian rights to her, Shelby’s grandmother, something the grandmother wanted, the mother felt that Shelby’s grandmother’s friend, Heidi, would be a better fit. Five years ago, Shelby joined Diana, Dustin, Alex, Destiny and Abby.

Shelby’s half-brother, Skylar, 7, was living with his grandmother until a little over a year ago, she decided that she no longer wanted to take care of him. Soon after, Skylar was welcomed into the Henrikson home with his half-sister Shelby.

Each time Heidi and Steve took on another child, their biological children called them crazy but they all knew that it was the right thing to do.

“I thought they were absolutely crazy,” said daughter Sheila Henrikson, who now finds herself volunteering to babysit the seven children when Heidi and Steve need a night to themselves. “Despite that, I know them and I know they care, I know they have the biggest hearts and I know it was the right thing for them to do.”

Many adoptions begin in the stages of foster care. Biological parents will lose custody of their child, because of physical or mental abuse, substance abuse or something else entirely, at which point, the child is given to a relative or foster parent for care. The goal in foster care is for the biological parent to regain custody of their child. When a parent fails to reach the standards the state has set in order for them to regain custody, the guardianship of the foster child is then given to the foster parent. After that, the new goal becomes adoption.

“When we change the goal to adoption, it’s really important that we make this happen,” said Pomar. “When adopted, the child legally becomes a part of that family and at the end of the day, all that child is looking for is a family to call theirs for life.”

With six different last names Heidi, Steve and their seven foster children had one goal.

“We came here today to give these kids our last name,” said Steve. “It’s what we’ve always wanted and today, we are finally going to make it happen.”

The children wanted Henrikson to be their last name so bad that when it was time to visit Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas, they all had the same thing at the top of their lists: the same last name.

With more than 60 family members in attendance, including Heidi’s mother, Judith Macomber, who drove three hours to attend – after the event would have 91 grandchildren – a Clay County judge entered the courtroom to ask a few questions regarding the adoption. Each child was asked if this is what they wanted and each child responded with a resounding yes. After a downpour of cheerful tears and a few legal statements, six different last names became one – Henrikson.

“This is a moment I will never forget,” said Heidi. “I think the kids, Steven and myself are just fully shocked.”

“Finally, finally, finally, we are one,” continued Heidi.

Each child handled the news, which came as a surprise – the kids were originally told they were there to attend a Christmas party – differently. Dustin was silent, taken aback by the news. He’s wanted this since the day he entered the Henrikson household, according to Steve.

Diana was limp on her mother’s shoulder, tears of joy streaming down her face. Abby, Shelby and Destiny couldn’t stop crying. Their Christmas wish had come true. Alex and Skylar couldn’t hide their happiness if they tried, with grins stretching across the width of their faces.

Heidi and Steve hugged for minutes, both crying into each other’s shoulder.

“This is the most rewarding adventure I’ve ever been on,” said Heidi, in regards to enlarging their family again with Steve. “It takes love, it takes care, it takes a lot of patience and it takes a very large heart and I’m happy we are capable of this.”

“These kids deserve the best lives and that’s what [Steve] and I are going to do our best to give them,” finished Heidi.