Giving Back
In many ways Kyle Elizabeth Mertins is a typical teen. She loves to shop, dance, hang out with friends and chat on her cell phone. The Workman Middle School 8th-grader is involved in many extracurricular activities - playing the violin, volunteering at her elementary school, camping in Georgia and Paint Your Heart Out Pensacola. All of this is tangible evidence of a young person living a full life.
What you don't necessarily see is the depth of her passion and her giving heart. Kyle's life has come full circle; she is now giving back to Children's Home Society, the very organization that united her with her mother and father, Bill and Robin Mertins.
In January 2005, the family celebrated a major life event as Kyle was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah, a rite of passage when a Jewish girl crosses over from childhood to adulthood and becomes responsible for her own deeds, spiritually, ethically and morally. Kyle prepared for this for many years, working diligently to learn to read Hebrew, volunteering and completing a required research project. It was with great pride that the Mertins watched Kyle stand on the bimah with the rabbi, leading the Sabbath service and reading beautifully from the Torah.
Their pride turned to admiration when Kyle said she wanted to make a donation to the Children's Home Society from gift money received from her bat mitzvah. "I have a wonderful family and Children's Home Society helped make that happen," Kyle said. "Hopefully, my donation will allow CHS to help other parents find wonderful children, and other children find wonderful parents."
"The Children's Home Society has always held a special place in our hearts," explains Robin Mertins. "In 1991, Bill and I adopted Kyle, with CHS' help. We both had been active volunteers with the CHS fundraiser, Ports of Call, for many years. When Kyle was only a few months old, she attended committee meetings with me. To this day, we run into people who served on that same committee who tell Kyle they remember her coming to those meetings." She continued, "And Bill served on the board of directors and executive board for many years. He visited Tallahassee many times as part of the Western Division Legislative Day delegation."
What the Mertins didn't realize at the time was how their acts of giving would influence their child.
Alyssa's Forever Family
Janis and Lyle Mosely yearned for a child. They had so much love to offer and longed to be a family. Their growing desire to become parents led them to CHS.
Like many prospective parents, Janis and Lyle dreamed of adopting a newborn. They were overjoyed after meeting a birth mother that had decided to place her child for adoption. As occasionally happens, the birth mother had a change of heart.
The Moselys were coached through this disappointment by their adoption worker, who prepared them for challenges and delays that sometimes arise during the adoption process. Nearly two years of waiting caused Lyle and Janis to wonder if they ever would have a child to call their own. But they continued to hope and soon learned of a birth mother who had decided to place her daughter with a loving family. The Moselys met the young mom and felt an instant bond.
"When we heard the baby's heart beat for the first time, we were overwhelmed with happiness," says Janis, tearfully. "We were unable to have a child of our own and realized that it did not matter. When knew our daughter would be born from our hearts."
The Moselys are certain that their love and support will enable them to overcome the challenges of raising a bi-racial child. "We believe that our love and encouragement will outweigh any prejudice or biased individuals we may encounter," says Lyle.
Janis and Lyle spent their first night as Alyssa's parents in the hospital birthing center. "We realized we were a family at the hospital. She is our daughter and we are her parents. She is truly a joy," Janis said.
Lyle describes adoption as "a process filled with uncertainties and questions. But, I can't imagine life without daddy's little girl." Now, Alyssa has a "forever family."
Zoe Means Life
When baby Zoe was born, her mother asked that the premature infant be placed for adoption. Zoe was 12 weeks early and weighed a mere two pounds. Her prognosis was grim, primarily due to exposure to cocaine during gestation. This tiny, gravely ill bi-racial newborn was no "Gerber baby."
Meanwhile, her prospective parents were waiting to adopt a Russian child. When they heard about Zoe, whose name means "life," they embraced the idea. Visiting the neo-natal unit daily, the parents committed themselves to ensuring her survival.
Today, Zoe is thriving. She has a new older sister and parents who adore her. Although she's endured serious medical complications, she remains strong and receives therapy through CHS' Early Steps Program. Zoe is a testament to the fight for life. She has been blessed with a wonderful family and, in turn, has blessed all who meet her.
Grandma's Hands
Harriet Groover is a grandmother and a saint. Four years ago she began caring for eight grandchildren when her own daughter's life became too unstable due to drug use. Accepting no financial assistance from the state, Harriet has been the sole financial support for her suddenly expanded family, due to a series of strokes her husband suffered. Now in a nursing home, she visits him daily.
Despite the tragedies she has experienced, Mrs. Groover remains strong and loving. She adopted her grandchildren, who range in age from 3 to 17 years. The children have blossomed in her care and the oldest is starting college. Mrs. Groover is doesn't consider her efforts saint-like, but the work of a dedicated grandmother.
