‘The Smile in Her Eyes’: Foster care family, inspired, refined by miracle child

The biggest test Eugene and Adrienne Williams faced when they committed to becoming foster parents for 3-month-old Makailah Grace was the haunting words from the hospital’s pediatrician.

“He said for us to prepare for her funeral, she is not going to live long,” Adrienne recalls.

Life-Changing Joy

The Williams officially adopted Makailah, 6, in 2023 after becoming her foster-care providers shortly after meeting her in the hospital when she was born.

“That was hard, but what was supposed to be the end of the story was only the beginning.”

Indeed, it was. Six years later and Makailah - despite a continuation of multiple, complex health issues that include being blind, immobile and non- verbal - is a living, breathing miracle.

She laughs and “radiates” and knows who she is with, Adrienne said. “You see the smile in her eyes.”

The couple’s previous stints as foster parents for five children helped prepare them for the daunting task of caring for Makailah, said Adrienne, a special needs educator.

The care needed for her started before the baby left for their home: The Williams had to spend 24 hours a day for a week in the hospital receiving the training necessary to meet the girl’s needs. But the medical attention Makailah proved to be only a part of the adjustments.

The pair and their three children who were teens when the girl left the hospital, had to transform their day-to-day lifestyle. That included being vigilant about sanitization – a trial run before there was a global pandemic. Having in-home visitors was forbidden, Adriene said, because if Makailah catches a common cold, it could be fatal.

Adrienne remembered getting a phone call from Apelah and the opportunity to meet a child with life-threatening challenges. She also remembers well that it took a few minutes for she and Eugene to pledge to take care of Makailah.

What was unexpected, she said, was how much Makailah’s joy would capture and shape the family, like grinding limestone into a piece of coal. “Our family never takes anything for granted, small things like breathing on your own - we value them.

“We pray more and see new grace every day,” Adrienne said.

For adults who may have considered fostering, Adrienne says that, from experience, it’s a hard choice. “It’s not an easy decision but it’s the best decision you can make,” she offered.