Save Veronica
Posted on
January 13th, 2012
by Jessica Munday
Two weeks ago, dear friends of TRIO had to hand over their little girl to her biological father. We have all been horrified, confused as to how this could happen in America and determined to bring our sweet baby girl home. In 2009, our friends Matt and Melanie Capobianco adopted a precious little girl named Veronica. They were with her in the delivery room, Matt cut the umbilical cord and were the first ones to hold her. Their adoption was an open adoption and to this today they have an amazing relationship with Veronica’s birth mother. Their story would warm any heart. When Veronica was four months old, Matt and Melanie were finalizing their adoption. Her biological father agreed that he wouldn’t contest the adoption and then a few weeks later changed his mind. Matt, Melanie and the birth mother were completely shocked. Where was this coming from after months and months of no contact or support of any kind?
Because this biological father had abandoned the birth mother, by South Carolina law he wouldn’t have had any parental rights. Then walked in the Indian Child Welfare Act thanks to the Cherokee Nation. We realize this law has a purpose and the intention of the law was to perserve families. In Veronica’s case, this law destroyed a family and after sharing Veronica’s story with others, we have now learned that it has devastated many, many others as well. It’s difficult to ignore when Senator Jim Abourezk, a former U.S. senator from South Dakota that authored the law states this is “something totally different than what we intended at the time.” Additionally, he said, “That’s a tragedy. They obviously were attached to the child and, I would assume, the child was attached to them.” We hear you Senator. We agree and all of us at TRIO are determined to help bring her home!
After nearly a two year battle, Matt and Melanie were ordered by a family court judge to hand Veronica over. Veronica was officially transferred to her biological father on Dec. 31. At 7 p.m. she was placed into a pick-up truck with three complete strangers and traveled more than 1,100 miles away from the only parents she has ever known. God speed sweet Little Veronica. We will continue to fight for your return. Will you join us and be Veronica’s Voice?
