Except that Hannah has her mother's blonde hair, you would never know which child was Mike and Holly Hyde's biological child and which was adopted.
It's not a story Holly said she planned to write for her family.
“I never thought we would ever adopt,” Holly said.
But after years of praying to have a second child, the Hyde's took a closer look at adoption and found they could start the process by being foster parents.
According to the web site Adoption.com adopting a child can cost as much as $40,000, but it isn't always that expensive.
“It's no secret adoption can be expensive, especially international adoption, that was one consideration but really the biggest one was that there are so many children here in Cole County who need homes,” Holly said.
That’s when the Hyde’s welcomed 7-month-old Aiden into the family.
“We fell in love with him right away,” Holly said.
The Hydes said they had to ask themselves some hard questions when they decided to be Aiden’s foster parents.
“Can I make a connection with this child and return them to their parents?” Holly said.
That didn't happen.
A year and a half later they adopted Aiden, who is now 3 years old.
Because the Hydes adopted Aiden through the foster care system, the adoption was free, legal fees and all.
Since Aiden was once a foster child, he will receive free day care, medical, dental coverage.
The Hydes also qualified for a new federal tax credit.
Mike said in-training foster parents are prepared for many difficult situations. The Hydes were thankful their process was smooth
“For us the process was easy, it's not always that way but if we can be that family where everything went right, we want to be that story,” Mike said.
It worked out perfectly.
“He needed a mommy and I needed a boy named Aiden,” Holly said.
Read the LIVE CHAT with Bridget Mack from the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association to learn more about the foster care system and ask questions about adoption.
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Get more information about the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association
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