4:49
- living
- December 23, 2021
Woman adopts 7-year-old after bonding at school
Paige Bramlett became a foster parent to William at age 24.
4:49
Julie Hirtzel, who served as William's court-appointed special advocate since 2017, said Bramlett provided the \"structure\" and consistency William needed.
\"William had his struggles, but Paige was the first home that William was in where there was constant structure and a sense of 'I’m not going to give up on you,'\" Hirtzel said. \"She’s done a super job of making sure that William gets what he needs. She does what every parent would do for their child.\"
Bramlett took on the responsibility of being a foster parent just weeks after her 24th birthday -- and as a single parent.
\"It is extremely hard being a single parent, but then you add on being a single parent to a child with trauma,\" said Bramlett, who began sharing her story on Instagram, where she said she found a community with other single foster parents.
\"There are so many single foster care moms I was unaware of until I shared our story,\" she said. \"You feel alone, but I also feel like I have a really good support system.\"
In October, Bramlett was able to formally adopt William, who went through at least six foster care homes before finding his forever home with Bramlett, according to Hirtzel.
\"Those two are special,\" Hirtzel said. \"This is probably one of the happier cases that I’ve had a chance to work on. It’s pretty amazing.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/gma-paige-ht-kk-211223_1640266092401_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Bramlett said it has been a special time for her family, one that has come with bumps in the road as well, as Bramlett adjusts to being a mom and William settles in.
\"It was hard to get his head wrapped around feeling secure, that he won’t have more changes,\" Bramlett said. \"When I think about it, the permanency was so needed. That’s what he was longing for, and I feel like he feels safe.\"
Describing her own transition of becoming a mom of a 7-year-old, she said, \"It’s sometimes hard for me to say out loud, like, oh my gosh, I’m a mom. But I'm so thankful for what I’ve been given and for how I’ve become a mom. You don’t expect it to happen so early, but I know it’s how I was chosen to be a mom.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/adoption-children-parenting-01-ht-llr-211222_1640201318252_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Bramlett and William are now starting their new life in a new home and with a new puppy, an early Christmas present for William.
\"It has definitely been a crazy ride but I think it’s just now getting started,\" Bramlett said. \"This is just the beginning.\"
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