Teen who aged out of foster care system adopted by former caseworker

• Leah Paskalides, 32, worked as Monyay’s foster care caseworker six years ago and since then, the two have clicked.
• Leah was prevented by her job to adopt Monyay due to conflict of interest, up until she aged out of the system.
• On April 27, Leah finally adopted Monyay, making her the happiest daughter on the planet.

Nothing is too late when it comes to family, biological or not.

This is proven by 32-year-old Leah Paskalides, a foster care caseworker who adopted 19-year-old Monyay.

The two have known each other for six years, when Leah was assigned as Monyay’s caseworker. And when the teen was 16, she has been calling Leah ‘mom,’ as if foretelling what the future holds for them.

True enough, on April 27, Leah and Monyay made it official.

“Both Leah and Monyay hope to serve as a reminder of the teens in care still in need of a safe and loving home!” Safe Children Coalition, Florida-based nonprofit, wrote on Facebook. “Congratulations, Leah and Monyay!! We are SO happy for you!”

At 11 years old, Monyay was placed into a group home in foster care. She spent the rest of her childhood years in the system, according to Fox affiliate KSTU. The teen’s life turned around when Leah was assigned as her caseworker.

Having a lot in common, Leah and Monyay hit it off immediately.

“I met her, and I saw a lot of myself in her,” Leah told Good Morning America. “Once she trusted me, we just clicked.”

The two became close, but Leah was prevented by her job to adopt Monyay due to conflict of interest, up until the teen aged out of the system.

“It was really hard going from being in a group home with an adult to help you to immediately being by yourself without an adult to help,” Monyay told GMA of aging out. “It was lonely.”

A documentary film about an adult man who got adopted kindled an idea to Leah, who was thinking to do the same with Monyay. She then talked about it to the girl, and within six months, the two officially became a family.

“It was important to me that she knew that she was wanted by somebody, that somebody loved her,” Leah told KSTU. “I could say that as many times as I want, but actions speak louder than words.”

After an emotional ceremony, Monyay updated her last name, according to GMA.

“I never expected to be adopted, and here I am. [Paskalides] never gave up on me,” Monyay said.

The 19-year-old girl was “beyond words” for getting the “one thing” she wanted all her life: that is, to have a mom.

Source: PEOPLE.com