We are urgently seeking 500 new Life Defenders (monthly supporters) before the end of October to help save babies from abortion 365 days a year. Your first gift as a Life Defender today will be DOUBLED. Click here to make your monthly commitment.
‘Meant to be’: Family fosters then adopts two girls with disabilities
Juan and Judith Arguello always wanted five children. After having two biological children of their own, Mariano and Judith, the couple decided to work with the organization Toward Maximum Independence (TMI), which places children with disabilities with foster and forever families. Now the couple has adopted two daughters with developmental disabilities through that program, and hope to soon adopt a son.
In 2016, the couple began their foster care journey and took in Akilah, now 10. They fell in love with her right away, and were able to adopt her. Then, in 2018, they fostered Lily, age 14. Her adoption was finalized in 2020.
“As soon as she came in the house, we loved her. She fit right in, it was meant to be,” Judith and Mariano told CBS8.
TMI said that as soon as Lily moved in with her new family, her health began to improve. Her parents act as strong advocates for her, ensuring she receives all of the medical, educational, and therapeutic services she needs. She is now walking with a walker, and spending less time in a wheelchair.
Every day in America, more than 2,800 preborn babies lose their lives to abortion.
That number should break our hearts and move us to action.
Ending this tragedy requires daily commitment from people like you who refuse to stay silent.
Millions read Live Action News each month — imagine the impact if each of us took a stand for life 365 days a year.
Right now, we’re urgently seeking 500 new Life Defenders (monthly donors) to join us before the end of October. And thanks to a generous $250,000 matching grant, your first monthly gift will be DOUBLED to help save lives and build a culture that protects the preborn.
Will you become one of the 500 today? Click here now to become a Live Action Life Defender and have your first gift doubled.
Together, we can end abortion and create a future where every child is cherished and every mother is supported.
“Lily is now a very social teen who initiates interaction with others, walks long distances using her walker, and is such a happy and bubbly teenager,” said TMI social worker Sandy Gonzalez. “Seeing how far she has come and seeing her joy for life is just wonderful.”
The parents were named TMI Outstanding Resource Family for the 2018/2019 fiscal year for the outstanding love and support they have given to both Akilah and Lily. And they say they are hoping to add one more child to the family through TMI.
“I am still waiting for one more,” Juan said. “Because we love them. Look at them, they are angels,” he added. Judith explained that they will follow God’s call, and if He tells them to foster and adopt another child, they will do just that.
TMI works in the San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties in California, and seeks to locate both foster and forever families for foster youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. According to CBS8, the organization is holding Zoom meetings for anyone interested in becoming a resource parent on June 3, 10, and 17.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Human Interest·By Nancy Flanders
