Former Wednesday's Child finds a loving Colorado family, promising future
CBS News Colorado has been profiling children living in foster care since 1979. Over the years, many of those children have found their forever family due to
those television stories
. It's a win every time it happens.
Jalysa was one of those children. Over the years she was featured on CBS News Colorado several times. She spent 13 years in the foster care system and had 23 placements along the way.
"My dream was to have a mom and a dad and meet my siblings again," Jalysa told CBS News Colorado.
Jalysa's forever family at just the right moment.
"We found her and she was ... they were just getting ready to send her to Camber Children's Mental Health facility in Kansas City," said Michelle, Jalysa's adoptive mother.
"When I was going through a hard time in Kansas and I had a plan to just not be here on this earth no more ... for some reason, they just decided to show up and take me in. Then, the next few months later, they asked me if they wanted to adopt me, and they kind of crumbled my plan," Jalysa laughed as she recalled. "But it was a good reason."
Michelle and Clay officially adopted Jalysa in August of 2024. She is the biological half-sister to their twins, Tyler & Cody. Michelle and Clay adopted the twins when they were infants. They were born premature and spent two months in the NICU. Thirteen years later, they are thrilled to be reunited with their sister.
"I feel like I'm actually a part of something rather than feeling like an outcast," Jalysa said.
Being a part of something is a huge adjustment of Jalysa after years and years of being all alone. Michelle and Clay saw some big behaviors from Jalysa when she first came home with them.
"In the beginning, we saw more, where she struggled with it a lot harder. We had more kinds of meltdowns, I guess you could say," Clay explained.
"To trust that we love her, to allow herself to be loved, when her whole life she felt she wasn't worthy of love, that she couldn't be loved, that she never would be loved," Michelle said.
Her dream was to have a mom and a dad and meet her siblings again. She got that and so much more. She got comfort. She got a home. She got a foundation from which she can build a bright future. Jalysa is excited to go to college in the fall.
"I just want the other kids to know they might be going through a lot of difficult times and not feeling that they're loved or cared for and just... they don't have a family right now, but they'll either make one of their own or they can have one," she said.
LINK:
A Day for Wednesday's Child
You can make a donation to support A Day for Wednesday's Child and help Raise the Future by calling 303-755-3975, or text 2025 DWC TO 71777, or click the link above.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
How one Colorado hospital's expertise in treating burns is helping those injured in Boulder terror attack
Look inside the Colorado burn unit where some of the Boulder attack victims are getting care Look inside the Colorado burn unit where some of the Boulder attack victims are getting care Look inside the Colorado burn unit where some of the Boulder attack victims are getting care Of the 12 people who were injured during the fire bombing terror attack in Boulder on Sunday, three of the victims remain hospitalized at UCHealth as of Tuesday night. They were being treated at UCHealth's Burn and Frostbite Center in Aurora, and two of the three had to be flown to the hospital following the attack due to the severity of the burns. Crime scene tape surrounds the area on Pearl Street in Boulder where a man attacked people with Molotov cocktails. CBS Jenn Wilson, nurse manager of the burn center, invited CBS News Colorado's Dillon Thomas into he burn unit to learn more about how they helped the victims of the attack. While unable to share any specific information about the victims due to privacy laws, Wilson was able to share how the center operated during the response. "It's kind of an all-hands-on-deck situation. When we have several patients coming in at the same time, typically we send out a page to get more help to come to the unit." Wilson said. The burn center in Aurora is one of only about 70 in the United States that has been accredited by the American Burn Association. "That designation indicates that we give the highest quality of burn care that we can," Wilson said. "There are only a handful of ABA-verified burn centers in the country, so this is the gold standard of care and the best place for a burn patient to come." CBS News Colorado's Dillon Thomas interviews Jenn Wilson, nurse manager at UCHealth's Burn and Frostbite Center. CBS Wilson noted that an immediate response and admission for care at the burn unit is important for those severely burned. "The sooner they get to a hospital or an emergency department, or anything like that, the better," Wilson said. Some witnesses told Thomas they were trying to put out the fires on their peers, however, water wasn't working at times. Some also recalled seeing clothes burning into the victims' skin. While unable to speak about the Sunday attack, Wilson said they always have a way to treat patients who may have other contaminants impacting their skin. "When there's chemical on the body, we may need to decontaminate the patient," Wilson said. Wilson said it is important for the response and care team to determine what percentage of the body is burned. In general, the size of someone's palm is considered to be 1% of their body. The University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. CBS Wilson said the average hospital stay for treatment is around one day for every 1% burned. That means some people severely wounded may have to spend weeks or even months in the hospital before they are healthy enough to try and transition home. "It is a long road for folks with a larger burn to get grafted and covered up. But, we are here for them every step of the way for them to get out of here and thrive," Wilson said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Where kids can get free lunches this summer in Northeast Ohio
CLEVELAND (WJW) — University Hospitals is partnering with the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce and the USDA to provide free summer meals to children at seven locations across Northeast Ohio. This marks the ninth year UH Rainbow Babies & Children's has sponsored the Summer Food Service Program. Hot, nutritious lunches will be available to all children aged 1 to 18. No registration, proof of income or residency is required. Motorcycle pulling a camper trailer overturns in fatal crash Meals will be served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children must eat onsite, as meals cannot be taken to go, according to federal guidelines. 'We are so excited to be able to continue this program that offers children a hot, nutritious meal every weekday all summer long,' said Kathie Wesolowski, Director, Women's and Children's Community Outreach, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's. 'Providing a delicious and fresh meal while also interacting with the families and sharing nutrition and safety education is one of our favorite community outreach initiatives.' Pop-Tarts bringing back fan-favorite flavor after six-year hiatus The 2025 meal program begins June 2 and will run through mid to late August at the following UH locations: Ahuja Medical Center, Beachwood — June 2–Aug. 12 Rainbow Babies & Children's, Cleveland — June 2–Aug. 15 Elyria Medical Center, Elyria — June 2–Aug. 15 Lake West Medical Center, Willoughby — June 2–Aug. 15 Parma Medical Center, Parma — June 16–Aug. 22 Portage Medical Center, Ravenna — June 2–Aug. 15 Samaritan Medical Center, Ashland — June 2–Aug. 22 The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the USDA and administered statewide by the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man, woman killed in South Jersey house explosion not in relationship, friend says
The Brief In Gloucester County, new information has come to light tied to a house explosion in Washington Township. A man and a woman were found dead nearly two weeks ago and the house was reduced to ash and debris. An investigation is ongoing, but it turns out, the two people were not in a relationship. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - New details have emerged on a tragic murder suicide in Gloucester County in early May. The man and woman found in the rubble were not in a relationship, the woman's best friend says. Friend's grief "He lured her over there. He lured her over there," Tammy Ventura said. Ventura says her best friend Michelle Whiting, was no longer in a relationship with Daniel Steele, but went over to his Washington Township home May 10th because he said he was going to give her a used car he had. Ventura continued, "She went over to get the Lexus." Timeline On May 11th, the burned-out shell of that Lexus was among the ruins after the house in Sewell was set on fire. Investigators said an accelerant was used to start it and the natural gas lines cut to spread it. After the flames were out, 45-year-old Michelle's body was found in a bedroom with "a fatal gunshot wound to the head that preceded the fire." Her death was ruled a homicide. 59-year-old Steele's body was found in the living room with a handgun near his body. His death ruled a suicide. What they're saying "He told her he was gonna help her by giving her a car and then he told her he was gonna help her with her daughter's graduation," Ventura explained. Tammy says Michelle had long ended what she called a physically abusive relationship with Steele. "She had a restraining order against him where he couldn't go near her which just ended in March," Ventura said. "They were not together. They were not together for over a year. He was obsessed. He would not leave her alone." Big picture view Tammy has video of Michelle dancing in her kitchen just days before she was killed. Michelle was a mother of three. Her middle child, a daughter, is about to graduate high school. Tammy lost her best friend but says her children have lost their world. Tammy says Michelle worked hard to try and give her children everything they needed and wanted. Ventura started a GoFundMe to try and provide for Michelle's three children and hoping to help somehow overcome the other hardships that go with losing their only parent. "I want them to be able to go forward. Their mother was everything. I can't even begin to tell you how much their mother meant to them," Tammy said. "It's heart-wrenching. I'm broken from this, but I try to be strong for her kids."
