Maiya. Photo courtesy of the Lake Wales News.

Cheers to the Lake Wales News in Florida for this article that mentions a social worker who helped arrange a home for a baby born with a severe defect.

Maiya was born with a stem cell, which regulates breathing and heart rate, but no brain. Her birth mother turned her over to authorities who scrambled to find a home for her.

With the help of an unnamed social worker Maiya was placed with the family of Bob and Cari Graham, who had already fostered 62 children. The Grahams took Maiya into their home and even tried to adopt the child.

However, despite expedited adoption procedures, Maiya died at three weeks before the process was complete.

“She only lived three weeks but it was wonderful. It was just really, really nice,” Cari Graham said. “Even though I know she affected several people’s lives. She was able to pull several organizations together and get them to work very rapidly for the sake of a child.”

Social workers help create new families through adoption and help children at risk find foster homes. To learn more visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Kids and Families website by clicking here.