A Place to Call Home: Eli finds forever family

(WNDU) - On Wednesdays, we like to share the stories of foster children in need of adoption. But today, the day before Thanksgiving, we’re going to do something different.

We have a heartwarming update on a boy once featured in Wednesday’s Child. He’s finally found a place to call home.

So many people wonder what happens to the kids we show in Wednesday’s Child. Sadly, many of them age out of the system, but we know there of several others who have found their forever homes.

In fact, Indiana Adoption Program reports that 39 children who were featured in Wednesday’s Child have been adopted and another eight have been placed with families on a path for adoption.

Eli is one of those kids who found a permanent placement. When we met Elijah in early 2022, the then-13-year-old was determined to make it in this world.

“I don’t want to be the only one in my family not to make something big of themselves. I want to be an inspiration for other kids,” Elijah said.

Elijah liked to cook. He often had to make the meals as a kid. He was a top student despite getting bounced around in foster care.

“I’m tired of moving, I guess. It’s annoying. Really annoying,” Elijah said. “I’m always worrying because my grades. If I see one bad grade, I always email my teacher.”

When asked what he was looking for in a family, Elijah replied, “I think it’s acceptance. Of who I am. My sexuality. I don’t care about anything else.”

That’s when Elijah told me he was gay and needed a family who supported and loved him unconditionally.

That was then. And this is now. He’s 16 now and goes by Eli.

“I’m a junior this year. I’m taking a lot of college classes. I’m taking four,” Eli said. “It’s busy. It’s fun. I mean, it’s a lot better than it was.”

A lot better because in May of this year, Eli was adopted. Savanna and Ashley Fettig are his proud parents.

“He was placed with us just a year ago, and we want nothing but for him to be successful as an adult,” Savanna said.

Savanna is “Mother” to Eli. Ashley goes by “Mom.”

Married for three years, both of them wanted kids.

“I had kind of given up on the idea of being able to be a parent. And when I met Savanna, she expressed her passion for foster care and wanting to adopt,” Ashley said.

So, they became licensed foster parents but didn’t get Eli’s placement right away.

“I had really just given up hope. One day I went on the internet and being from this area, I did know that you did Wednesday’s Child and I was just hopeful that I would find something. And then I came across the video, which was Eli’s video interview with you,” Savanna said. “I mean, I had just invested myself so much into this video. I’d shown people, I’d been like, you know, this is Eli, like Elijah at the time, you know, this is my son.”

Eventually, they got the call from the state and Eli was placed in their home.

“I was scared. Like I remember pulling up to the house and I told my caseworker I’m like, uh... I’m very nervous. Like my heart just fell... I was scared,” Eli said.

Eli’s placement happened just in time for him to help with their Friendsgiving, an event sponsored by Whitley County Pride, a non-profit the couple started last year.

“Thanksgiving was actually our first, we did our weekend visits, our overnights with him last year. And our Friendsgiving with our non-profit last year was our first weekend with him last year. So, we have come full circle,” Ashley said.

Eli still likes to cook.

“I make weird things, though,” Eli said. “Like, just weird concoctions, you know?”

“Eli makes some interesting concoctions, and Ashley, on the other hand, knows how to make those things a little bit better,” Savanna said.

And somehow life got better.

“I was alone. I felt like I was going to be alone. And then they came in my life,” Eli said. “I was very fortunate. I’m very fortunate. And I’m very thankful for them.”

“I love them,” Eli said. “Yeah. I love them.”

“We really just want to create new experiences. And being able to have a family to be able to do that together with is incredible,” Ashley said.

“He brings so many people joy. And he’s such a giver. And this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for him to be our son,” Savanna said.

Eli wants to work in the medical field someday. He’s keeping his grades up and will soon be a certified nursing assistant (CNA). He might want to become a dispatcher. His parents work for the same ambulance service for Allen County. We wish them all a very happy Thanksgiving.

If you would like to learn more about the children still waiting for adoption, please watch WNDU’s Wednesday’s Child segments.