The little boy nobody wanted
Wherever there is love, things just seem to work out. Diagnosed with autism, Zayden was the only child in the shelter who hadn’t been adopted. Then kindergarten teacher Dawn Jones learned about his plight . . .
Walking through the children’s shelter in Oklahoma City, the social workers sighed. Ever since the Department of Human Services had announced it was closing this facility, they had scrambled to fi nd families for the children there. Now, every child was placed in a safe foster home. Every child but one. Taken from his biological parents due to their drug abuse and neglect, Zayden had autism. At nearly seven, he still wasn’t potty trained. He ate with his hands and couldn’t string together more than a couple of words. So as they packed up the last boxes of the shelter, the social workers left a single small cot and a few baby toys scattered around.
But would they ever fi nd a family for Zayden?
“Zayden’s house!”
Desperate
but determined, they contacted the TV news, who ran a story about Zayden.
Hennessey, Oklahoma, kindergarten teacher Dawn Jones was at school when her niece sent her a message: Is there anything you can do to help this boy?
It was recess, so Dawn clicked the attached video— and began sobbing so hard, she had to stop watching.
Why does nobody want this beautiful little boy? her heart screamed.
Immediately, she sent the link to her husband, Michael.
They hadn’t planned on taking in a foster child. In fact, with their older daughter, Shiann, out of the house already and their younger daughter, Mahala, graduating from high school soon, they figured they’d soon have an empty nest and had already talked about downsizing.
A police chief, Michael considers himself a tough guy. But truth be told, Zayden got to him, too.
This poor kid has nobody, he thought. So he told Dawn, “Call and see what happens.”
First Dawn and Michael would have to undergo foster parent training, and there would be mountains of paperwork. “But we’d like you to meet him,” social workers said.
Dawn wasn’t certain what to expect. Despite her training in early childhood and special education, every child—and every child on the autism spectrum—was different. But seeing the little boy with the ruffled brown hair in person, she fell in love even more.
Zayden’s eyes lit up as she quietly sang nursery rhymes to him. And, as he made his way around their house, he announced, “Zayden’s house!” It’s like he picked us! Dawn marveled. It wasn’t long before Zayden was spending the night. “Good night, Mom,” he said softly as Dawn tucked him in. And from that moment on, he never left them.
Becoming a Jones
Still,
it wasn’t always pictureperfect. Because of his sensory issues, Zayden hated baths and having his nails trimmed. Be- cause of his delays, he couldn’t dress himself, but when Dawn tried, he’d thrash and sometimes yell. Sometimes, he’d even spit.
Then there was the constant motion and mischief. One afternoon when Dawn turned her back for a moment, Zayden poured sand in the air conditioner. Another time, he dumped mud into the pool, clogging the fi lter.
“It’ll just take time,” Dawn assured Michael, who began reading everything he could fi nd on autism. And somehow, with his new parents’ love and patience, miracles began to unfold.
Finally, Zayden was potty trained. “You did it!” the whole family cheered, and Zayden wrapped his arms around Dawn. He began speaking in full sentences. And in only a few months, Zayden was reading and writing!
“There’s no way we could ever let him go,” Dawn and Michael— even the girls—agreed. So they sat Zayden down.
“How would you like to be a permanent part of our family?”
Zayden glanced up at Dawn and Michael.
“Do I change my last name?” he asked. “Do you want to?” Nodding, he blurted, “I want to be a Jones!”
On adoption day, standing in court, Zayden repeated the tale they’d spoken about: “The judge will hit the gavel three times, then I will be a Jones!”
This particular judge, however, didn’t have a gavel. But hearing Zayden’s wish, he sent someone to fi nd one. Then, inviting Zayden up, he let him bang the gavel!
“Now I am a Jones!” Zayden announced proudly. And laughing through grateful tears, Dawn held him and said, “Forever!”
Today, nine-year- old Zayden is in a regular third-grade classroom at Dawn’s school. He plays baseball and loves everything electronic, including reading manuals on rebuilding engines!
“It’s awesome to see what was actually underneath this kid. He’s just blossomed! All the people who knew him before say they can’t believe the things that he can do. But before, no one ever gave him the chance,” Dawn says. “Every child deserves a home and to be loved. He’s proof that love can work miracles!”
“Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy all.” of SAI BABA