TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

In Clearwater Courtroom, 18 Adoptions Extend Families

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

Photo Gallery

CLEARWATER - Courtroom 1 on the fourth floor of the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center swelled this morning with smiling faces -- actually, most were downright giddy.

In a courtroom that mostly is witness to families being broken apart, this was something completely different.

Adoptions were on the docket here this morning, 18 of them. Proud about-to-be parents stood with about-to-become their children. Extended families took photos. Handshakes were exchanged and a tear or two shed.

"I've always wanted someone to call me Mommy," said Debbie Birdsall as she took a quiet Akira into her arms. The 2-year-old had her hair done up and was in a pearl-colored dress for the auspicious occasion.

Her new dad, Mark, was aglow.

"It's like a Christmas present that you always wanted," he said. "It's the world."

He and Mommy have known Akira since she was about 9 months old, and they finally got the chance to make her legally theirs.

"I just can't come up with the words," Debbie Birdsall said.

Nearby, Thomas and Deborah Teel wheeled in their new twins, 2-year-olds Justin and Jeremiah. Born to a crack-addicted mother, the boys seemed healthy today and ready to get on with their lives in their new, albeit crowded, home.

The additions bring the family head count to 10.

Four children are their own; two are foster children; and now there are Justin and Jeremiah.

It was a fine birthday day gift for Thomas Teel, who turned 39 today.

"It's pretty cool," he said.

"It just shows you that good love and good nutrition can give you two healthy boys," he said, looking down at the pair of towheaded youngsters.

The mass adoption in Pinellas County was in recognition of National Adoption Day, Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Robert J. Morris told the throng of about 200 people, including children, parents and extended families.

In this courtroom, unhappy things usually happen, he said. "Adoptions are a bright spot."

Ashley Rhodes-Courter also addressed the crowd. She's a college senior and has been instrumental in raising money for adoption charities in the area. She said she had spent her first 12 years of life being bounced from foster home to foster home. Fourteen of them, altogether, she said. She finally moved in with her adoptive family 10 years ago, she said, and it turned her life around.

"Children need families," she said, "not programs."

Her father, Phil Courter, gave the crowd a little advice.

"Never, ever give up on your kids," he said. "Stick it out -- whatever happens -- and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT