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Caseworker Adopts 19-Year-Old Who Spent Most Of Her Life In Foster Care

May 5, 2021

A caseworker in Florida is a new mom to a 19-year-old who spent most of her life in foster care.

Leah Peskaledis and Monyay Peskaledis

Leah Peskaledis met Monyay six years ago and formed a close bond. Leah was Monyay's caseworker.

But because of her job, Leah wasn't able to adopt Monyay until she aged out of the foster care system.

Now, that day has come.

After the judge declared the adoption official, Leah and Monyay shared a hug for the first time as mother and daughter.

"Everything is official, the one thing that I wanted since I was a kid has finally come true," Monyay told WTEN.

"I made her a promise that I would find her an adoptive family. I just didn't know that I would be the adoptive family," said new mom Leah.

The pair will be celebrating their first mother's day together this weekend.