Story of Hope: Stephanie Shokrian
Written By: Stephanie Shokrian
In the Spring of 2023 my supervisor, Mackenzie, presented several cases of children who needed CASA’s advocacy in our community. After much consideration, my heart kept pulling toward one special little baby boy, Gideon. Much to my surprise, one little boy came along with his beautiful baby sister, Yana, his twin. These two precious twin babies came into CPS care immediately after entering the world. Having recently delivered my own baby boy, I knew this was why I was being called to care for these sweet babies who were removed at birth from their biological parents due to drug exposure and neglect. There were many medical challenges to overcome, painful withdrawals, and uncertain nights. I am so in awe of the foster parents' commitment to loving these siblings through these medically fragile and overwhelming situations. They did it all with grace and compassion and I am go grateful to have been a part of this collective team.
When I spent time with the babies, I made sure to always give a gentle heartbeat to rest upon, a mother's lullaby to hear, and my full attention and engagement. To play with them, laugh with them, read to them, or sometimes just sit and be still with them for a moment. I felt that maybe they would feel some comfort and care in a time of separation and loneliness. I learned quickly that their foster placement home was very like-minded, nurturing, loving, emotionally healthy, and had bonded with these special babies and would be providing the same kind of love and care that I had hoped for them. I knew these babies were in a special home that would treat them with kindness, give them hope, and help them grow into strong, happy, healthy children. Something was just right, and I committed myself over and over to go all in, whatever it took, to ensure that Gideon and Yana stayed together through the foster process, felt safe, and were cared for in every way possible.
The initial, primary goal in Bexar County is to reunify biological parents with their children, and this case was no different. The department and I worked together to try and encourage parents to engage in their service plan and maintain their sobriety. Even reaching out to their extended family to expand their support network to further motivate them on this journey. However, after a pattern of showing no progress in the services provided and no hope for reunification after all, our Judge ultimately terminated the parental rights and awarded permanent managing conservatorship to the department. While this is not always the outcome, in this case, and with these children, this was the most hopeful and healthy outcome for Gideon and Yana. These two now call their foster parents Mama and Dada and they have gained a very special big brother, Arlo. A gift for them in so many ways, as they have a brother that will always look out for them, stand up for them, and help guide them as they become the incredible individuals they were destined to be. A forever home for Gideon and Yana, a forever family for all.
Throughout my advocacy journey with Gideon and Yana, I learned to expect the absolute unexpected, to stand up strong and tall in the face of uncertainty, to pour love in wholeheartedly, to use a big voice, even if your knees are shaking and to look for laughter and warmth in the coldest and least hopeful alleys. It is where the light shines in the darkest moments that I was able to make a difference in Gideon and Yana’s life. My goal of keeping the two siblings together remained strong and never wavered. Hand in hand, as they were in the womb, they will always be.
Never goodbye, but “see you later, cutie patooties”, the end of a “case” is a bittersweet day, but as the twins gained a forever family, in many ways, so have I. Thank you, CASA Leadership, and especially, my amazing CASA Supervisor, Mackenzie Olearnick, for paving the way for CASA advocates, like me, to advocate successfully, professionally, and with creative perspective, all the resources you can imagine, support & encouragement.
Gideon and Yana, you are so loved. For the foster family, who adopted these precious angels after fostering them, congratulations on all the wonderful moments to come! Thank you for protecting and loving these babies. I witnessed so much love & joy pour from your family to the babies that I wish every CASA child could receive from their foster placement! It’s going to be a beautiful life for this family!
