GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — An extra special birthday present for a young man in Clay County. Just hours before turning 18, he was adopted. It was sheer joy inside the Clay County Historic Courthouse Tuesday afternoon as Roman Nehemiah officially became a Balassaitis.
“I was sweating bad. My heart was beating. I was very happy,” Roman Balassaitis. said. “It means I have someone to go to. It means if I need someone to talk to, I have people to talk to now.”
Roman is the seventh child Renee and Brad Balassaitis have adopted out of foster care, joining their two biological children.
“Today was a race to the finish line for Roman a day before he turns 18. And once he turns 18, there's no adoption through the state as a minor. We'd have to go about it a whole different way,” Balassaitis said. “And so, a lot of people work really hard at the end to get it all done in the nick of time.”
The Balassaitis’ have fostered about 20 kids over the years.
“So now we know we have nine kids, officially,” Brad Balassaitis. said. “It's incredible. I mean, we're hours away from him turning 18. And we've started this process months and months ago, trying to make sure that you know that he wouldn't age out and become a statistic.”
In Florida 60% of children in foster care age out of the system according to the University of Florida, and homelessness can become a harsh reality.
“I think on paperwork it showed he has been in 19 different places over the past several years. So, it's not been an easy life for him,” Brad Balassaitis said. “I love that it will, we'll have the opportunity to be a part of his life going forward, that he doesn't have to worry about bouncing around anymore, he knows that we're here for him.”
Roman is grateful.
“Thank God! I want to say, ‘Thank God, it happened!’"
“I know he's very relieved. We're relieved. He’s going to do so well. He really is. He just needed to know people believed in him, and he was wanted and chosen. That's a big deal for kids in care at any age, but especially older kids," Renee Balassaitis said. "And I want other kids are aging out of the system to know that you might not be adopted in the nick of time. But there are people that will choose to love you if you can dare to trust us."
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent you can learn more through the Family Support Service of North Florida's website.