With fresh eyes, uncynical attitudes, and open hearts, children look at us to love and protect them. They respond to events in their lives instinctively, feeling this is the way life should be. What they derive from their childhood can define them in later life.
It seems one little girl from Arizona got lucky after her less than wonderful start in life, when a policeman from the Kingman Police Department, came to her aid in a time of severe neglect.
Involvement Evolves Into Family
In March 2018, Zach was working as a patrol sergeant when he and his officers got a call to check a residence. Zach said he knew something was wrong right away. He found Kaila realizing that her injuries were abuse and needed investigating. She was seriously injured, and this was the third time recorded.
He told Good Morning America “ I took care of her, took her back to the station… We watched ‘Wreck-It Ralph,’ and we just bonded.”
He went on to say ‘We colored, we snacked … she held my hand and she was just this cute little thing,’
Once detectives came, they took her to the hospital. She was treated for several injuries as a result of physical violence. Criminal charges against Kaila’s caretakers were lodged.
Zach, already a father of two, was unable to stop worrying about her – “When I came home that night, I told my wife about this little adorable girl that we got to meet and I wanted to just bring her home.”
The Zach family stepped in without reluctance when child protection services needed to find Kaila a temporary home. She arrived at their home with just a sippy cup and a bag of clothes. They bought her a bed, a high chair, and a potty.
She only knew three words, basically grunting like a caveman. She now loves to talk, and within two days she was calling Brian’s wife Cierra, ‘mom’.
Bria said, “I was ‘guy’ for a week or two and, then when she started preschool she learned who dad was.” (1,2)
New Home
The Zachs formally adopted Kaila on Aug. 18, 30 months after she came into their custody, at Mohave County Superior Court in Lake Havasu District.
We lived each week not knowing if she was going to go back to her biological parents, or how long we were going to keep her,” Zach said, “Our goal was to love and care for this little girl for as long as it happened.”
Kingman Police Department’s chief of police Rusty Cooper said “Lt. Brian Zach’s commitment to public safety is exemplified in his commitment and love for Kaila. Both Brian and his wife Cierra are amazing parents.” (1,2)
Adoption Figures
Through no fault of their own, children enter foster care because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and are unable to continue living comfortably with their families.
There are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States, according to recent federal statistics. They range from infants to 21 years of age. In foster care, the average age of a child is more than 8 years, and there are significantly more boys than girls. In Arizona alone, 13,000 children are in care, waiting for a forever family. The fostering or adopting process takes a few months. There is no fee if you do either through the state of Arizona’s foster care system. (3)
Little Kaila is a survivor, and what does she have to say about her new Dad?
Simply, “I love him — I love him so much,” (1)
We all evolve with people we care about in life and just because family is family, does not mean that the relationships within will work. A family just means related by blood – but sometimes other families are better suited for us, more than the one we were born into.
