Florida grandma gets custody of 3 granddaughters just in time for holidays

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — When a child enters foster care, the goal is for them to be reunited with their biological family. WPEC had the chance to join a family on their adoption day after a loving Florida grandma was determined to get her three granddaughters back home.

"Ready? One, two, three!"

Sisters Kailani, Tina and Lili spent nearly three years in foster care.

“The day they took them away, I thought it was the end. I was like, oh my God, no,” remembers their grandmother Ydaly.

“It was just a lot of different ups and downs in the different homes,” Kailani, the oldest sister recalls.

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But their grandmother, o Tita, as they call her, was determined to get them home. They had the help of their guardian ad litem every step of the way, who says the girls wanted to be adopted by their grandmother.

“I've been in all the placements, and this is what they wanted,” their guardian ad litem said.

And just in time for Christmas, a judge agreed and they were officially adopted.

“This is my Christmas gift best Christmas gift ever,” says Ydaly. “Because these are my kids. Like, I've known them since they were babies. I was there when they were born.”

“It's really exciting. I can't stop smiling," Kailani said. “We've always been a family, but now that it's official, we don't have to go through anything else.”

With Tita, Kailani feels that a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders and she gets to be a kid again.

“I don't have to worry anymore. I get to relax," she said. “It's our first Christmas since everything. So, and Lili's first Christmas with all of us all together.”

“If you really want it, you can get it,” Ydaly added. “It is not easy. I'm a single grandmother. My husband passed away. You know, and I have a full-time job. I work long hours, but it's worth every moment.”

For more information on how you can help children and teens in foster care, contact Forever Family in partnership with ChildNet by visiting foreverfamily.org.

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