Adoption sends grandmother back to full-time motherhood

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KSWT/KYMA/KECY) - November 23rd is National Adoption Day and in Yuma County, several parents will now welcome a child permanently into their homes. 

For Adriana Vargas, Saturday is the day where she will finally regain a normal life as the legal guardian of her granddaughter Jasmin, whose been under her care since her daughter gave birth behind bars.  

“She told me that she was pregnant,” said Vargas.  “I was happy because I always wanted to be a grandmother.” 

That’s what Adriana Varga’s daughter told her while behind bars.  Immediately, she knew she wasn’t going to be a regular grandmother.  

Then and there at just 4-days-old, Jasmin was taken under the wing of her grandmother. 

Vargas said, “I never knew I had to take care of her [Jasmin] but then I knew mom was going to come back and take care of her and I was going to be a regular grandma.” 

However, Vargas hoped that her daughter was going to turn her life around, but things wouldn't go according to plan.  

Years later, the journey was filled with an emotional rollercoaster

But the journey hasn’t been hugs and kisses, a journey full of pain and separation.  At one point, Adriana and Jasmin were separated for almost 5 months after a judge ruled that it was safe for Jasmin to return with her biological mother. 

But as in the past, that too fell thru, culminating with a then-boyfriend of the mother taking Jasmin to Adriana at midnight hoping he would take her back.  

She did. But the journey to permanently care for her has not been an easy one. 

Vargas said, “It’s been really hard (sniff) oh, I’m gonna cry, it’s been really hard.”

3 years of countless visits to court, meetings with caseworkers, and even the fear of once again being separated was just the tip of the iceberg that was the adoption process.  

“You never know, when you are going thru this you never know when they are going to come to knock at the door and say ‘we are taking Jasmin,” said Vargas

Vargas mentioned that during this process she undertook 15 hour workdays to make enough money to pay for an attorney.  

But now all that will come to an end.  

“It means a lot it's like its coming to an end, finally,” said Vargas.   “Is it true that I’m really going to adopt her? It’s something big.” 

Adriana is to adopt her granddaughter this upcoming Saturday during National Adoption Day, where several other families will also adopt a child into their families. 

For Jasmin, this guarantees future kisses and hugs from her 'new' mom. 

Jasmin said, “I love her too much, she loves me and I give her hugs and kisses and all that stuff.”