Change has been the only constant in 16-year-old Deryck Blake’s life since he entered Colorado’s foster care system at age 6.
But after enduring 11 different placements in the past 8 years, Deryck got the only change he ever really wanted Saturday morning — a permanent and loving family.
At 10:48 a.m., Jefferson County District Court Judge Ann Meinster finalized his adoption to Mike and Kay Wolfe of Fountain.
Deryck was one of 18 adoptions finalized at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building Saturday as a part of National Adoption Day.
“We now have a 6’2″, 192 pound, bouncing baby boy,” Mike Wolfe said as he chuckled and gently nudged Deryck.
Wolfe, a retired mechanic, father of five and grandfather of nine, thought he was done raising children until a family friend persuaded him and Kay to try foster care three years ago.
The Wolfes began taking teenage boys into their home that they said felt “too big and too empty” after their children were gone.
“The moment we met Deryck, we knew he was special,” Kay said as she pushed back tears.
After Deryck had been in the Wolfes’ home for two-and-a-half years, Kay said, he asked her whether they would adopt him.
Kay admitted she was a little shocked but managed to reply, “Why would you want us to adopt you?”
“I don’t know,” the quiet teen said, “Maybe because you love me?”
Kay said she knew it was true and just six months after that conversation he is an official member of the Wolfe family.
Now Deryck says the only changes he wants are a driver’s license and car.
Nine of Colorado’s 22 judicial districts participated in the nationwide adoption event whose emphasis is pairing foster care children with “forever families.”
It is estimated that there are 107,000 youths in the U.S. foster care system awaiting adoption. Approximately 350 of those at any given time are in Colorado.
This is the seventh consecutive year that the adoption event has been celebrated by the Jefferson County Court. The judges present at Saturday’s festivities agree that it has become the court’s happiest day of the year.
Judge Brian Boatright, a former Jefferson County judge and new appointee to the Colorado Supreme Court, emceed the event, which included an after-party with food, balloons and face-painting.
As a father of two adopted children, Boatright managed to push back his emotions and charge the families.
“Adoption is a promise acted out over a lifetime,” he said.
Weston Gentry: 303-954-1054, wgentry@denverpost.com or
