A Journey of Heartbreak and Hope:
Bailey’s Path to a Forever Family
When Jennifer Thompson, NOAS’ Family Worker, first met John and Jennifer Balogh, the couple was parenting three sons and eager to expand their family through adoption again—this time with a daughter. They knew they had so much more love to give and believed they could open their home to at least one more child. While Jennifer wishes she could say their journey to finding the perfect match was easy, it simply was not. The Balogh family endured several heartbreaks when they were not chosen as the right family for children they learned about in the foster care system. With each disappointment, the family’s hope of finding their daughter dimmed a little more.
Then Bailey walked into their lives, and life has never been the same! On December 11, 2023, Bailey moved into the Balogh home and officially became the first girl of their immediate family. In January 2024, Bailey made a video for John and Jennifer, explaining where she came from and what she was hopeful for in her life. In the video, she shared that she had first come into foster care at the age of eight, but had lived with her grandmother in the beginning. Her grandmother loved her very much and wanted to care for Bailey, but due to her own declining health, she knew it was best for Bailey to enter foster care. Bailey’s grandmother stayed in contact with her over the years, offering support. When Bailey was placed in foster care, she was initially cared for by an older woman who had provided foster care for many children. Bailey became very attached to her; however, the foster parent also recognized that Bailey needed a younger couple to keep up with her active lifestyle.
John and Jennifer were the couple that Bailey needed. From the very beginning, Bailey felt at home with the Balogh family. She gained two loving and patient parents, and three brothers, with whom she quickly developed a typical sibling love-hate relationship! While there have been some challenging days, one thing has remained constant—the love they all share for one another.
On September 16, 2024, after spending 1,247 days in foster care, Bailey was adopted in a room full of love.
Jennifer, who has been an adoption worker for twenty years, described this adoption hearing as the most intimate and emotional one she had ever had the privilege of attending.
The room was filled not only with the Balogh family and the workers involved in the adoption but also with Bailey’s birth family and her previous foster mother, who had cared for Bailey for several years. The Judge asked everyone present to speak to John, Jennifer, and Bailey, offering their support and encouragement. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room—including the Judge—as everyone spoke directly to the family. Bailey’s birth family and former foster mother gave their blessings to Bailey and the Balogh family as they moved forward into their new life together. This little girl is incredibly blessed to have such a strong support system—both from her present and her past.
Bailey is the epitome of a survivor. Despite the odds stacked against her, she emerged stronger than ever. Diagnosed with Autism, Bailey has thrived in the gifted program at school, participates in local community theater, and plays soccer for her community team. Bailey was given the chance that every child deserves: to live a normal childhood with a loving family.
You can be part of stories like Bailey’s.
By becoming a recurring monthly donor, you can help build hope for other children and families in the foster care system. Your generosity ensures that children like Bailey get the chance they deserve—the chance to thrive, be loved, and find their forever home. Every donation, no matter how small, plays a part in building brighter futures for the foster youth who need it most. These monthly donations allow NOAS to recruit, train, assess, and license families, guiding them every step of the way as they open their hearts and homes to local children in the foster care system.
Together, we can make a difference and help families like the Baloghs continue to grow and make a lasting impact on the lives of children who have faced unimaginable challenges.
Will you help create more stories of hope? Because every child deserves the love, stability, and opportunity to grow that Bailey has now found with her new family.
