Nationwide — After nearly 15 years in foster care, 19-year-old Cozy, the longest-waiting child in Arkansas’ system, was officially adopted by Tim and Anna Dietrich. The couple gave him their family name and welcomed him with love.
According to Fox 2 Now, Cozy entered foster care as a young boy and waited more than 5,400 days for a permanent family. On Monday, his wait ended inside a packed courtroom filled with supporters from the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Project Zero, and other groups who had followed his journey.
Anna Dietrich first met Cozy through her work at Project Zero, a nonprofit focused on connecting foster children to adoptive families. She said it became clear that her family was meant to welcome him. “We’re supposed to give him our name, give him our family, and give him our whole hearts,” she explained.
Cozy, who is nonverbal, now has parents ready to stand beside him. “Cozy’s getting a whole crew today, and we’re so excited. And that is what we want for every single one of our waiting kids,” Anna added during the ceremony.
The Dietrich family celebrated the special day together, visiting a park and enjoying some of Cozy’s favorite foods.
