When Dee and Eric learned that their daughter had given birth to a baby boy, it wasn’t through a joyful phone call from the hospital: it was from a social worker. Jonah was born drug exposed and was in the ICU. Dee and Eric were overcome with guilt that they could not care for Jonah due to Eric’s health and already caring for his half-brother, Chase. Fortunately, they knew where to turn: to Wes and Amanda, their pastor and his wife, who had adopted two children of their own.
Wes and Amanda immediately reached out to Ryan and Betty Kondo, friends of theirs who had joined their church after recently moving to St. Louis. “The night we got Wes’ text, we prayed and talked, and knew quickly that our answer was yes,” explained Betty. “But even so, we weren’t expecting to get him—at the time, we weren’t even licensed! Our friends who have adopted four children helped us understand that since we attend the same church as Dee, we were considered Jonah’s kin.”
The Coalition’s 30 Days to Family® team who was initially involved with Jonah’s case knew that this kinship relationship would be instrumental. Two weeks later, the Kondos received a call that Jonah was being discharged from the hospital and had been placed in their home. They introduced Jonah to Pearl and Ryder, their biological children.
Pearl, who was six at the time, remembers the first time she saw Jonah. “I was the first one to hold Jonah when they got inside. He was snuggled up on my chest on the couch.”
Soon after welcoming newborn Jonah into their home, the Kondos brought him—already nicknamed “Baby J”—to church so Dee and Eric could meet their grandson for the first time. They said, “Once we met Betty and Ryan, we felt like we could sleep at night and know Jonah would be taken care of. We finally felt peace and give thanks to God that it worked out this way.”
Over the next three years, the Kondos worked hard to become licensed foster parents, remaining determined despite a deluge of requirements and paperwork. The situation became more complex when the Kondos moved from Missouri to Michigan and they had to restart the licensing process. The journey was not easy. Ryan and Betty credit to their supportive friends and church community. Jonah’s case manager changed several times due to turnover, but Hannah Trout, Families United Specialist at the Coalition, remained a constant support to the Kondos. They reflected, “Hannah was amazing! Her prior knowledge having worked as a case manager helped us so many times. If she didn’t know the answer, she unfailingly tracked it down for us.”
When Jonah’s case goal was moved from reunification to adoption, Betty and Ryan explained to Ryder and Pearl that Jonah was officially going to be their brother. Ryder’s reply? “He’s always been my brother.”
There was not a dry eye in the room when Jonah was officially adopted by Ryan and Betty in April of this year.Surrounded by friends and family, Dee, Eric, and Chase were cheering the loudest. Dee and Eric said, “We know Jonah is blessed to be with [the Kondos] and that he will grow up and have a great future.” Dee and Eric remain an important part of Jonah’s life, connecting with the entire Kondo family often via text and video calls. “We wish they didn’t live so far away, but we’re so lucky to have three new grandkids to add to our list!”
Pearl, now ten, Ryder, now six, and Jonah, now three have fun—and poke fun—with each other like any other siblings. They love to play pretend with their stuffies, laughing at Jonah’s monster noises and singing silly songs together. Jonah looks up to his older brother and always tries to copy him.
“Fostering and adoption has shifted my perspective and given me more empathy for others. We went through some hardship over those three years and 25 days. It’s made me a better person, and our children have seen what true compassion means,” Betty reflected. Ryan added, “It wasn’t easy, but anyone can do this. We’re just regular people who were willing to say ‘yes.’”
That “yes” has knit together a beautiful family with a special tradition of “Family Fridays.” Whether it’s going to the movies or getting pastries from a local coffee shop, this intentional time set aside for enjoying one another’s company is the embodiment of the love and care they have for each other. The Kondos have many more “Family Fridays” to look forward together—officially as a family of five!