2001 Angel in Adoption Awardees - Pound Pup Legacy

girl. She is a beautiful and bright little girl. The Twente’s feel that these experiences have brought them closer toGod.North DakotaMerrel and Shelley BussertSen. Byron Dorgan, NDSen. Kent Conrad, NDReason for selection: Merrel and Shelley have adopted four children through ND’s special needs adoption program.Benjamin (9) was adopted in 1999. In October of 2000, the Bussets welcomed John (10), Jodi (8) and Jessica (5),into their lives as foster children. One week later the family lost everything in a house fire, including their pets. TheBussets’ have since adopted the three siblings. Merrel and Shelley have one child by birth, Bryce, who is eightmonths old. Merrel and Shelley home school their children and cooperate with other home schooled families toprovide enrichment activities for the children.Shelley will be participating in the Mrs. ND America pageant on June 2, 2001. Her platform will bring attention tofoster care and adoption issues.Dan and Keatha McLeodRep. Earl PomeroyReason for selection: As foster parents for over ten years, Dan and Keatha McLeod have given many children the giftof hope, the gift of love, and the gift of family. Over the years, however, these children have given the McLeods agift o f their own. Dan and Keatha have learned that there is perhaps no more important or more fulfillingundertaking than raising a child.In 1999, the McLeods adopted Ryan, a special needs foster child who had been in their care. Ryan, who is seriouslyphysically disabled, had been given a very poor prognosis. Dan and Keatha’s love, however, has kept Ryan alive.He has thrived under their care, doing better than anyone expected or even dared to hope.Most recently, they have adopted Tina, the daughter of a refugee Bosnian. They also provide care for two NativeAmerican children with serious attachment disorder. Dan and Keatha have proven that there is no replacement forloving parents and a safe and stable home. They are truly deserving of this year’s Angel in Adoption award.OhioDr. and Mrs. Emil GulliaRep. John BoehnerReason for selection: Emil and Fran Gullia provided foster care to an adolescent child after the county removed himfrom his mother’s home. Shortly after custody was returned to his mother she passed away. As a result, this childwas returned to the Foster Child Program and was again temporarily placed with Emil and Fran. The county thenreleased custody of this child to his biological father. Eventually, he was removed from his father’s home and onceagain returned to Fran and Emil. Fran and Emile then took the necessary steps to adopt Andrew and he has been apart of their family for the last five years.Gary and LaVerne HumphreySen. Mike DeWineReason for selection: Gary and LaVerne Humphrey were high school sweethearts, who shared the dream of raising afamily on a farm so they could provide their children with lifelong lessons in the values of shared work, selfsufficiency,caring for one another and for those in need. Their faith in the dream was tested with five miscarriages,but they have three children, Heidi (21), Gary Jr. (17), and Christopher (6). Gary Jr. was born prematurely, has hadover sixty surgeries throughout his life, and continues to require close medical attention. They consider him “theirmiracle,” in that he has not only survived his many difficulties, but also has done so with dignity and grace, andgrown into a fine young man.Through the work of LaVerne’s sister, the Humphreys became acquainted with a five-year old girl, in the permanentcustody of Athens County Children Services. Undaunted by her physical and learning challenges, the Humphreysadopted Jessica in 1996. Like her older brother Gary Jr., Jessica has defied all predictions and has made gains that