[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26547]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO JESSIE, GEORGE AND KYLE HETHERINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2005

  Mr. GRIJALVA.  Mr. Speaker, I rise to day to honor Jessie, George, 
and Kyle Hetherington. Jessie and George Hetherington, two 
grandparents, have faced many obstacles in the process of adopting 
their grandson, Kyle. This family is to be commended for they have 
persisted through personal and legal struggles to ensure Kyle's 
adoption.
  Kyle entered Jessie and George's home in October of 2000. This family 
joins the growing trend of 6 million children being raised by ``Grand 
Families'' keeping children in loving homes. The Hetherington family is 
exemplary proof that often the best chance a child has at leading a 
normal life filled with affection is with a family of their own.
  It is Grand Families such as the Hetherington's that provide a safe 
and stable home for children who would otherwise fall into foster care 
systems. But the commitment to a happy family has many obstacles and 
requires perseverance. The determination of this family defines 
unconditional love.
  When Jessie and George first brought Kyle home, they lived in an age-
restricted community. To keep Kyle, the family moved. Finding a new 
home was the first obstacle. Then, 15 months later, Kyle's mother 
regained custody. Kyle later returned to the Hetherington home, but his 
health, physically and emotionally, was worse than before. Since then, 
the family has been through several legal battles to keep Kyle from 
being returned to his mother, an absent father fighting Jessie and 
George's adoption rights, and accessing services for Kyle's health 
needs.
  The family has undergone an intense legal pursuit but has been guided 
with love, patience, and support from Kinship, Adoption, Resource, 
Education (K.A.R.E.) program. The K.A.R.E. program works with 
Grandparents raising Grandchildren, and helped the Hetherington family 
navigate a system that does not understand the strength and needs of 
Grand Families.
  The Hetherington family will soon celebrate a legal victory and adopt 
Kyle on December 6 of this year. Their emotional and legal struggle 
represents the battle of will over circumstance. This day is an early 
birthday gift for Kyle and a life long family gift. Kyle is a second 
grader at Miller Elementary School in Tucson, AZ and turns 8 on 
November 23.
  Jessie and George Hetherington's love, hard work, and dedication, and 
that of all Grand Families, should be acknowledged today.
  As Jessie states ``Love can work wonders done in the right way''.

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