Spring 2021
NEW HEIGHTS Stories about life-changing journeys made possible by you!
Five Years to the Day: Sisters For Life
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ugust 17 is an important day for Missy and Chris Ewing and their children. They adopted their daughters, Lilly and Cici, on the same August date, five years apart. “It’s a special day of creation for our family,” Missy says. “It’s sister day.”
A YEAR OF COVID We have never stopped helping those who need it most (page 2)
Eight years ago when their biological sons, David and Tim, were ages 6 and 3, the Ewings became certified foster parents through Lilliput, a part of Wayfinder Family Services, and started their search for a daughter. “We knew from the first day we met Lilly, she was a part of our family,” Missy says. At first, 4-year-old Lilly was so happy to be home with the Ewings. But Missy and Chris soon noticed that Lilly was coping with trauma and fear by disconnecting from the world, which is called dissociating. “Lilly had suffered a lot of broken attachments,” Missy explains. “Every time something scared her she would retreat.” Lilliput recommended a child therapy center. In therapy, Lilly gained better coping skills. “As a family, we learned tools to help her identify when she was feeling anxious,” says Missy. When they started thinking about a second adoption, Lilly asked for a sister. Missy and Chris went to a Lilliput event for prospective adoptive parents. There, they saw a photo of 10-month-old Cici—and fell in love. “She was our match,” Missy remembers. “She did not fit the profile we thought we were looking for. At birth, she had club feet, and her hips were not in alignment.” When she joined the family, Cici could not sit up without help or move independently. (continued on page 6)
Would Angeline’s vision ever improve? A Wayfinder family begins their journey... (page 4)