There was one thing that Sara and Stuart Shank weren't prepared for on their court day, and that was their teenage foster son Dayshawn interrupting the judge. Not only did they not expect his expression of love, but they anticipated his six-year-old brother Michael to blurt something out instead.
The Shank's court experience has brought hundreds of viewers to tears. But the story didn't start there. After three years of fostering them, the couple attempted to adopt the boys officially. This is the family's story.
No One Had Expected This Teenager To Speak Up
In August 2018, the Shanks went into a court proceeding that would define the rest of their lives. They had fostered two boys for over three years--something which neither of the 26-year-olds expected. They all quaked in their chairs as they waited for the judge's ruling.
During the hearing, the 13-year-old boy interrupted the judge to explain his love for his foster parents. His speech caused everyone (especially his mom) to shed a tear.
Years Before, They Wanted To Foster
For Sara Cozad, fostering children was her life's dream. Both she and her husband, Stuart Shank, carried this dream into their marriage. In an interview with Good Morning America, Cozad said that she mentioned fostering "ten minutes into their first date."
"I was impressed with how he rolled with it," she admitted. "I never felt compelled to have biological children, and it just made sense if kids in our community need a place to stay and we have a house, that is what we would do."
Making Their Dream Come True
For most people, discussing becoming a foster parent seems like an odd choice on a first date. But foster parenting was such a significant ambition in Cozad's life that she couldn't help but mention it. And Shank shared her long-term goal--the perfect match!
The couple fell in love quickly. In 2014, they married in their home state of Washington. Despite both being in their early 20s, the two planned to begin fostering two weeks after they returned from their honeymoon.
Difficult, But Not Impossible
Despite the couples' motivation, they worried that they were too young. Most U.S. states require a minimum age of 21 to foster parent, and Cozad was 23 at the time. Although they were of legal age, they believed that their lack of experience could inhibit their relationships.
The social worker who spoke to the couple recommended that they take in toddlers and newborns to start. "It went great, and we loved it," Cozad wrote on her website.
In The Beginning
In the beginning, the Shanks had taken enough classes to shelter toddlers. They cared for newborns who needed it, either for a couple days, weeks, or months. The couple supports reuniting the children with their parents whenever possible.
"You get to play this small role in raising kids and being a support for a family when they need it," Cozad told Good Morning America. They cared for the children until the toddlers could return to their families.
How Do They Handle Letting Go Of Children?
Although the Shanks support reunification, they still acknowledge how difficult it can be. On their website Love What Matters, Cozad addresses those who believe that letting go of a child will be too hard. "And that's true. It is hard," she wrote. "And I cry every single time a child leaves."
Cozad adds that they maintain their relationships with all of their foster children and their parents. "Our relationship doesn't have to end just because they return home," she elaborated.
Their Parenting Strategy
Throughout their years of fostering, Cozad and Shank never harbored any ill-will towards the families of the children. "We walk hand-in-hand with them," Cozad said. "When we go to court, I'm sitting next to their moms and supporting them."
The couple worked to reunite families in every situation. Fortunately for them, a situation arose that they never expected. After all--what would happen if the child couldn't return to his family?
The Boy Who Changed Everything
At one point, Cozad and Shank were assigned to take care of a three-year-old boy named Michael. They only had to take him in for two days, which they accepted. Although they didn't know it, Michael would capture their hearts as no one else had.
Near the end of the weekend, a social worker asked the couple to extend Michael's visit to one week. They agreed; they hadn't even noticed how quickly time flew by.
Becoming More Than A Visit
"That weekend turned into a week. And that week into months. And those months into years," Cozad wrote on the couples' website. It wasn't long until Michael no longer seemed like a guest. He became a member of their family.
Of course, Cozad and Shank adored the three-year-old. But reuniting him with his family was still their priority. They were reminded of this when a family member came to visit.
Brothers Reunite
A few months after the Shanks took in Michael, they agreed to supervise a sibling visit. Michael was scheduled to talk to his older brother, ten-year-old Dayshawn.
"The second Michael caught a glimpse of his brother from across the playground, he ran with all his might and jumped into his arms," Cozad wrote on Love What Matters. "It was that second that Stuart and I looked at each other, and we truly understood the importance of Dayshawn and Michael needing to be together.
But Could The Brothers Stick Together?
Cozad and Shank acknowledged that the boys couldn't reunite with their parents. If they wanted to keep the boys together, they would have to take in Dayshawn. But they were hesitant about fostering a preteen. After all, they had not yet taken the classes for handling a soon-to-be-teenager.
Specifically, Cozad worried that she was too young to parent. At the time, there was only a 13-year age gap between her and Dayshawn. But once she started talking to him, all her fears fled.
Like They Were Meant To Be Family
"We fell in love with Dayshawn as soon as he opened his mouth," Cozad later said. The couple describes him as empathetic and social. While Michael was more reserved, Dayshawn was effervescent and, as Cozad called him, "a ham."
"Being his mom feels so natural," Cozad later wrote on her website. "He doesn't even seem to notice that I'm so young (or he just doesn't care.) To him, I'm just his mom."
But What About Reunification?
Although the Shanks loved the two boys, they found themselves debating over their unexpected plan. "Adoption wasn't our primary goal, although we were open to it if it became available," Cozad wrote on Love What Matters. "We advocate for reunification whenever possible."
Unfortunately, reunification wasn't possible with Michael and Dayshawn. If the couple didn't adopt them, there was no guarantee that they would stay together. But they didn't have the experience to care for Dayshawn, either. What could they do?
Their Internal Struggle
Cozad and Shank ended up fostering the brothers for three years. Throughout that time, they experienced what they called a "flip-flop of emotions." They continually debated whether they should work harder toward reunification or adopt both boys.
"We would support the goal of reunification, and we would mentally prepare ourselves for that and then all of a sudden, the case plan would be switched to adoption," Cozad later wrote. "And then six months later, back to reunification."
That Long Period Wasn't Wasted
Although the couple debated their stance on the situation, they still worked to develop their parenting skills. They took classes with parenting coaches. They attended conferences to talk to other foster parents. And they accessed plenty of online resources.
Through their learning, the couple employed Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), a parenting style that helps kids who experienced trauma. As Cozad describes it, "you become a person they can attach to before you fix the behaviors."
Things Only Got Better
The classes helped the couple feel more comfortable with fostering a teen. In the meantime, Michael and Dayshawn became their longest foster kids ever, and the family grew close. Parenting the two boys became more and more natural.
On her website, Cozad recalled that she eventually let go of her internal debate. "This process really made me realize that I needed to just sit back and enjoy every single moment with our boys, because I truly had no control over what the future held.
But They Did Have Control Over The Future
Despite the couple's flip-flopping, they eventually settled on adopting Dayshawn and Michael. They worked on arranging a court hearing for official adoption. However, the process took a lot longer than they expected--months upon months upon months.
Meanwhile, Michael and Dayshawn grew incredibly excited to be adopted. Even so, the couple continued to foster other kids. Cozad said that Dayshawn "makes it his personal mission to welcome every new child who comes to us."
Finally--The Adoption Court Hearing
On August 13th, 2018, the Shanks and two brothers attended the final court proceeding. Family and friends traveled to celebrate the potential adoption. At this point, the couple had fostered the boys for three years. Michael was six, and Dayshawn was 13.
Although most people assumed that the adoption would be approved, the Shanks were still nervous. There was always a slim chance that the court hearing could go awry.
During The Proceeding
The entire court proceeding was recorded on video. It was a highly emotional hearing, but one moment in particular brought people to tears. During the meeting, the judge hypothetically asked, "You think they all agree that this adoption ought to go forward?"
Based on the judge's tone, most attendees assumed that they didn't need to respond. But Dayshawn did reply. The 13-year-old interrupted the judge to express his love for his parents.
This Is What He Said
"They all love us," the teenager cut in. Now having the floor, Dayshawn continued. "We love them. Our whole family is the best thing we ever had. I'm glad to have these people in my life. I'm glad to be their son."
At this point, Cozad was visibly crying. Dayshawn added, "They're the best thing I ever had. If I could wish for anything in the world, I would wish I could just love these people for the rest of my life."
And The Adoption Was Finalized
Dayshawn's mother wept tears of joy at his unexpected declaration. The judge, clearly moved, responded, "If I had any doubts, they're gone now." She finalized the adoption then and there. Dayshawn's wish was fulfilled.
The Shank family left the courtroom to celebrate with friends and family. They rode a limo to a doughnut party with people who love them. Photographer Krista Welch shot their heartwarming pictures of the official adoption.
Their Lives Post-Adoption
With their adoptions finalized, Michael and Dayshawn took on the last name, Shank. According to Cozad, "everything has changed and nothing has changed." They had already been living as a family before the court date, but now it felt more official.
"If someone told me five years ago I would be 26 and adopting a teenager, I would have thought they were crazy," Cozad said in an interview. "Now, I can't imagine it any other way."
Will The Shanks Still Foster Now?
By the time the Shanks adopted Dayshawn and Michael, they had fostered 14 children. The family agreed to foster more children, specifically teen moms, LGBT+ youth, and victims of sex-trafficking.
"It's heartbreaking that these demographics of teens sit in social workers offices or shelters for WEEKS (or even months) on end since so few homes are open to them," Cozad expressed on Love What Matters. After the adoption, the family welcomed in a 14-year-old who needed a good home to stay in.
They're Not Incredible People
"Sometimes people say we are incredible people," Cozad told Good Morning America. "That's not true. It's just showing up and trying to do your best. We meet incredible kids and families and it's a great privilege to care for kids in our community."
The Shanks truly believe that fostering children is the most rewarding thing one could do, even though it isn't easy. "No child should feel grateful to have a family love them," Cozad asserted. "It should be given."
Colorado Mom Adopts Two Children, Months Later Learns Their True Identities
In her early 30s, Katie Page was living in Alabama, yet was feeling unfulfilled. She was looking for a new beginning to get out of the rut she felt she was in. Her marriage had recently ended, and she felt completely lost.
It was a time she has described as the hardest in her entire life. She knew that the only thing she could do was to start over entirely, and despite having friends and opportunities in Alabama, she needed to get out.
Making Crucial Decisions
Even after her marriage had ended, she was aware that there were still opportunities that she could take advantage of. So, she decided to figure out which ones were worth examining.
With so many options in front of her, she was hesitant but knew that whatever she did would help the situation she was in. At least, she hoped. It was at that time that Katie received a job offer that seemed like the answer to her problems.
New Job, New Life
Katie took the job and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she started working as an integrated service manager for the construction company GE Johnson. She was feeling positive that she had made the right decision in order to turn her life around and accomplish some of the goals she had.
She ended up purchasing a four-bedroom home that required a lot of renovation. Katie commented that "The house was a large four-bedroom home. I told my friends at the time that it was meant for 'more,' even though I really didn’t know what ‘more’ meant at the time."
She Was Focusing On Self-Care
Renovating a home, no matter what size, is not cheap by any means. So, Katie decided that she would take on the job herself, keeping her busy, and giving her a purpose. She stated: "The house I bought would require extensive work to transform into my vision – and most of which I would have to do myself in order to afford it."
However, she was doing some self-reflecting at the time too recalling, “I remember literally looking in the mirror one day and sobbing at the woman I saw, and I knew that I was not the woman my heart desired to be.”
She Still Felt An Emptiness
Katie was well-aware that her decision to remodel her home herself would be a daunting task. It was no light remodel either, she would even have to replace the floors! While she felt fulfilled while working on the house and was keeping busy, she still felt that something in her life was missing.
It wasn't long before Katie received a letter in the mail that would change her life forever. She realized she had been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime that she wasn’t going to pass up.
Finding Religion
After moving to Colorado, Katie became a deeply religious person, joining a local church. On that fateful day, Katie received a letter from her church about a seminar they thought she would like to attend.
It was about the opportunity for her to become involved in a foster program for children in need. She wondered if this was the answer she was looking for, and the longer she thought about it, the more confident she became. So, she agreed to attend her church's seminar.
Everything Started To Add Up
In the events leading up to Katie receiving the letter, she had been focusing on becoming the woman that she wanted to be. She moved across the country, started a new job, and became involved with her church.
Yet, she still felt that there was more she could so, not just for herself, but for others. Katie figured that the foster program would be an excellent way to help, and would bring her the satisfaction she had longed for. Looking at all the space in her home, she knew she wanted to put it to good use.
She Needed Support
After deciding to attend the seminar, she knew that she would need to talk through everything before she made such a life-changing decision. So, she called the person that she trusts the most, her mom. If her mom agreed with her decision, Katie knew that it was definitely the right choice.
However, at first, her mom was caught off-guard with Katie's proposition. She couldn’t wrap her head around why Katie was interested in becoming a foster mom. Her mom was well aware of how difficult it is to raise children but agreed to attend the meeting with her.
It Was The Right Decision
After speaking with her mom, Katie was surer than ever that she had made the right decision to attend the seminar. Once she got, there, she felt more passionate than ever about everything. She knew this was exactly what she needed.
During the presentation Katie learned the ins-and-outs of what it meat to be a foster parent, becoming inspired by the many stories she heard from those already involved with the program. Of course, she was also nervous, but this was a huge decision!
Something To Look Forward To
At this point, Katie had done just about everything to turn her life around. She moved to a new city, started a new job, joined a new church, and was fixing up her house! Now, she had this to look forward too!
Before receiving the letter from her church, she had never even considered being a foster mom. Now, she wouldn't stop thinking about it. Yet, that doesn’t mean she dove in headfirst. She knew what a big decision it was and didn’t want to mess it up right out of the gate.
She Was Diligent Before Making Ger Final Decision
Although Katie believed that being a foster mother was her calling in life, she was also aware of how much time and dedication it takes. This led her to feel both excited and anxious about the whole thing.
On top of that, she hoped that she would even be able to meet the requirements! She poured over the documents and looked at all the options available. After a final discussion with her family and friends, she decided she was going to do it!
She Completed Her Application
On Mother's Day, 2015, Katie completed and submitted her application for the foster program. After taking the proper amount of time to think things through, she knew she had made the right choice. With each step she completed in the program, she was feeling more and more fulfilled.
As she became more involved with the program, she also learned about all the ways she would be helping these children in need, only solidifying her feelings. Even though she was still scared, she wasn’t going to back down.
She Was A Certified Foster Mom
After completing the application process and the necessary training, Katie was a full-time foster mom. Her first few cases weren't infants either, but children who needed temporary housing after a traumatic event.
She cared for each child with all of her heart, providing them with whatever they needed while simultaneously being there for them emotionally. While she took her job incredibly seriously, over time, she began to feel that she wanted to be more than just a foster parent.
She Was A Natural
During her time as a foster mom, Katie had the opportunity to help four children in need. After just her first case, Katie knew that she was meant to help these children. Not only that, but she turned out to be a natural at parenting, making being a foster mom not even feel like a job.
While she was content with being a foster parent, another feeling began to grow inside of her. She started to think that she wanted to become an actual mother herself.
She Wanted Her Own Child
Not long after becoming a foster mom, Katie found herself wanting to adopt a child of her own. She had worked with young children that had grown up in abusive situations, however, they never stayed for long. So, she decided she wanted a child that she would never have to say goodbye to.
However, things were about to quickly get serious. Her next case would be unlike anything she had experienced before and would test if she thought she could take on full-time motherhood.
The Opportunity To Help A Newborn
Soon enough, Katie received a call from the foster program about a specific case. A mother had abandoned her child after giving birth to a baby boy at a nearby hospital and the hospital reached out to Katie to help care for him. Katie was currently fostering a 14-month infant but had never cared for a newborn.
Even though caring for these two babies would prove to be a challenge, she also didn't have a choice. The child needed help as soon as possible. The child was just four days old and had already gone through so much.
His Age Wasn't The Only Factor
After being discovered at the hospital's front door at just four days old, the poor baby needed help, and fast. As if his young age wasn’t bad enough, doctors soon discovered that the baby had been exposed to drugs in the womb.
Fortunately, after some tests, it was announced that the drugs would not have long-term effects on the child. But still, the newborn would experience withdrawal symptoms. Katie wasn’t prepared for this type of responsibility but knew it was something that she had to do.
Rising To The Occasion
Even though Katie was already taking care of a 14-month-old, she knew that she would need to give everything she had to care for this new and suffering baby. However, she knew that she needed to call her mother first, to give her some much-needed support.
Katie asked her mother if she could come and stay at her house to take care of the babies. Her mother agreed immediately. Within a day, Katie had moved into her mom's house, something she is eternally grateful for.
She Named The Newborn
Considering that the baby had been abandoned at four days old, he didn't have a name, at least not yet. Katie decided to give him her favorite boy’s name, 'Grayson’ because by God’s grace she now had a son.
Katie had fallen in love with Grayson the second she had laid eyes on him and felt a connection that she couldn’t explain. She slowly began to realize that the feeling was true motherhood and she wanted to raise the boy as her own.
Looking For Answers
Since Katie had been caring for Grayson since he was just four days old, he had earned a special place in her heart. Katie and her mother looked after Grayson for 11 months while a social worker looked for his biological parents.
However, nothing came up in their search, except his mother's first name and date of birth, which was left on a bracelet on Grayson at the hospital. They were desperately hoping that they would get answers soon.
Grayson Didn't Need Biological Parents To Be Loved
Unfortunately, it was clear that they weren't going to find out anything about Grayson’s past anytime soon. It broke Katie’s heart that nobody wanted to claim such an adorable and bright baby boy. As sad as it was, Katie also saw it as an opportunity.
It meant that it would make adopting Grayson incredibly easy, something she had been considering for some time. Yet, she dreaded the day when she would have to tell him the truth that nobody had claimed him. But she had a connection with him that she couldn’t ignore.
Katie Finally Adopted Grayson
It became increasingly clear to Katie that Grayson was destined to be her son. She had acted as his mother since almost his first day alive, so the only thing that would change would be some paperwork.
Katie also didn't feel guilty since they had done everything in their power to find his mother. She made the decision to adopt Grayson, making him the newest addition to the Page family. He had just turned 11 months old and Katie couldn’t be more in love.
A New Member Of The Family
Although Katie felt like everything was developing so quick, she couldn't be happier. On May 25, 2017, she officially became Grayson’s mother! Her dream of adopting the beautiful boy had finally come true and it felt so good to call him Grayson Page.
Even though Katie knew that she eventually wanted to expand her family further, for the time being, she was content with just Grayson. She wanted to give him her undivided attention for a little while.
Grayson Had To Overcome Some Hurdles
Unfortunately, Grayson had some issues as a result of his exposure to drugs while inside the womb. What he was experiencing was not uncommon for cases like his, they resulted in developmental and physical problems. One of the reasons Katie didn't adopt Grayson sooner was because she was too focused on getting him the proper care that he needed.
Yet, a couple of weeks after Grayson’s adoption was finalized, Katie received a call from the foster agency. They had a baby girl with similar issues to Grayson, and they needed her to take the baby in.
A Similar Situation
After receiving the phone call about the baby girl, Katie knew she needed to help once again, even though she had Grayson to worry about. However, after talking to a social worker, Katie felt like she was having Deja Vu.
The little girl was four days old and had been dropped off in front of the same hospital as Grayson. The child's mother had also been using drugs when she was pregnant. While Katie knew that it was hard work, it seemed like some kind of sign that she would be faced with a similar challenge.
Too Big Of A Coincidence
It wasn't a walk in the park by any means and Katie felt overwhelmed. Yet, the similarities between the newborn girl and Grayson kept her going. She felt like she was meant to care for both of the children at the same time.
After seeing what Grayson had gone through, she knew that she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she hadn’t welcomed the little girl into her home. She even somehow saw some of Grayson in the girl, making her feel even more connected to the child.
She Never Had Any Regrets
After the little girl was finally settled in with Katie, she knew that she had made the right decision. She cared for the baby girl much like she had when Grayson first arrived in her home.
While the other baby Katie was fostering eventually found a home, it wasn't long before she had two children under her care once again. She had done it once before, so she knew that she would be able to do it again. It also helped that her mother was still willing to help!
The Little Girl Had Been Through A Lot
When the social worker arrived at Katie's doorstep with the baby, the two had a long discussion about the girl’s complicated case. The longer they talked, the more connections Katie made between the little girl and Grayson.
Much like Grayson, the social worker knew little to nothing about the girl’s past, and the two babies medical conditions were similar as well. As soon as she took the little girl in her arms, something caught her eye.
An Interesting Detail
Now, Katie was officially the mother of Grayson and the foster mom to the little girl. While performing her duties as a single mother, Katie couldn't help but notice unmissable coincidences between the two children both in how they acted and how they looked.
Katie thought she was crazy at first, but it turned out the girl’s birth mother had the same first name as Grayson’s. So, she decided to dig deeper and went to the hospital to look at Grayson’s discharge papers.
More Clues
Katie poured over every document that she could get her hands on about each of the children. She wanted concrete evidence before she would claim her suspicions to be true.
While researching, she discovered that the birthday for the girl's biological mother was just one day away from what Grayson’s had listed. Could the two babies have the same mother? Katie thought it was too big of a coincidence to be possible, but also something she couldn’t ignore.
Taking A Deeper Look
Now completely invested in uncovering the truth, Katie really got to work. After months of research and hypothesizing, she finally got in touch with the girl's mom and sat down to talk with her.
During their conversation, the mother admitted that she had indeed given birth to another child, prior to the little girl. She also claimed that she had given up the baby without any records so she couldn’t be traced.
Things Were Starting To Get Real
After some discussion, Katie convinced the woman to sit down with the children's caseworker to see if they were indeed siblings. Still, Katie couldn’t imagine it was possible that she ended up with siblings randomly.
Of course, she also knew that there was too much evidence for her to stop now. Katie commented, "There were features on the babies that were very similar. They both have a chin dimple and the other feature is one that only a mama would see because it’s covered by their diaper!"
The Call She Had Been Waiting For
Finally, Katie received a call from the children's caseworker. She had spoken with the suspected more and the caseworker said: "Katie, I think you’re right…" The social worker was equally as stunned and was sure to double check all of her evidence.
In the end, everything added up with the social worker saying, “Her story breaks my heart and I can’t believe it, but I am 90% sure you’re right and this is a miracle.”
The Final Piece Of Evidence
While the social worker claimed to be 90% positive, the next phone call confirmed their suspicions. She discovered that the two children were indeed siblings after she finally found the last name for both of their mothers. Amazingly, it was the same.
Neither Katie or the social worker could believe what they had uncovered. Not only did Grayson have a little sister, but they had both found their way into Katie's care! Katie now knew that everything had led up to this point.
The Next Step Was A DNA Test
Although Katie and even the social worker were fully convinced that the children were siblings, she wanted scientific proof. So, she took the children in for a DNA test, and the results were exactly what she thought.
The two shared the same genes which made Katie break down in tears of joy. It was obvious what Katie needed to do next and got straight to work on the paperwork needed to adopt the baby girl. There was no way she was going to let the siblings ever be separated again.
The Newest Addition
Katie knew there was a reason she was so drawn to the little girl when she first held her. After learning her true identity, she adopted the girl on December 28, 2018. She was now the proud mother of two siblings, and their story is nothing short of a miracle.
She named the girl Zoe Hannah Page and the two children bonded like any other two young siblings. However, they definitely aren't the same person. Grayson is a lot calmer than Hannah who has a lot of energy.
Katie Was Right When She Signed Up For The Program
Since Katie had first heard about the foster care program, she was drawn to it for a reason she couldn't explain, and now she knows why. After making her discovery, people praised her for solving the mystery about her two children even when social workers were doubtful at first.
She started out with little to no information, but her determination and love for her children proved to be worth it. Now, she has two beautiful children and quite the story to tell about their family!
Another Curveball
Katie eventually met her children's biological mother once again, only to discover that she was pregnant once again. To Katie’s dismay, she learned that the woman planned to do the same things she had done with her first two children.
Luckily, Katie learned of her plans beforehand and intends to adopt the child immediately after it’s born. Although this will add a whole new level of responsibility, she believes that all of the siblings should grow up together. She’s now taking the time before the baby’s born to prepare.
Katie Won't Leave A Sibling Behind
For a time, Katie thought that the children's birth mom was trying to take her children back. However, after seeing everything Katie had done for her children, and the love she has for them, she realized Katie is their true mother.
The siblings’ biological mother gave birth to a boy 13 months after Zoe was born and Katie is in the process of trying to adopt the child. Although Katie has not released any information about the newborn, she has every intention of being the mother of all three siblings.
Katie Couldn't Be Happier
Katie has had quite the journey since she first decided to move to Colorado Springs, but it all worked out in the long run. Yes, she had her ups and downs at times, but her determination to better her life and the lives of others brought her where she is today.
Now, she's the mother of two beautiful children, and hopefully soon a third! Her story shows how quickly your life can change if you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone and open your heart.
