The Pacha Family’s Adoption Journey, One Year Later
Submitted by The Baby Fold
In 2020, as the world stood still, Hilary Pacha—a single mother in Bloomington—finally answered a quiet, persistent calling in her heart: to become a foster parent. Years earlier, The Baby Fold had supported her through its Healthy Start program while raising her son Elijah, leaving a deep impression. When it came time to take that leap into fostering, she knew exactly where to turn.
“I looked up the requirements online, and it seemed so overwhelming,” Pacha recalls. But one call to The Baby Fold changed everything. “Brittany, my licensing worker, acknowledged my worries and said, ‘I’m here to help,’ and she meant it. From that moment forward, the process didn’t feel intimidating at all. The Baby Fold made everything as convenient and seamless as possible.”
Her first placement, a young child who stayed for 18 months, brought joy, growth, and eventually, the bittersweet moment of reunification. Not long afterward, she received a call from her caseworker about two-year-old twin boys in need of a home. Their previous foster placement hadn’t worked out, and they needed somewhere safe to land.
“As soon as I laid eyes on them, I knew they were meant to be with me,” Pacha beams. “Walter had these big brown eyes, and William had this sweet, captivating smile. I just fell in love with them.” In August of 2022, Pacha welcomed the twins into her home.
Her biological son, Elijah, 13 at the time, was all in. “He absolutely loved the whole experience,” Pacha says. “He had always wanted a sibling, so this was a dream come true for him.”
But the story didn’t end there. The twins had two more siblings—Haven (5) and Mavric (7)—who were living in another foster home. When Pacha learned they were about to be separated again, she couldn’t bear the thought. “I told my caseworker I would take them both. I didn’t want to see them split up. They deserved to stay together.”
With that decision, all four siblings were reunited under one roof. Their connection reignited instantly. Pacha shares, “They were all incredibly excited to see each other. For about 2-3 days, there was constant hugging and playing. It didn’t quite seem real to them, they were in awe of each other.”
For Pacha, adoption became the natural next step. She knew in her heart that she was meant to give the four siblings a permanent, stable, and loving home—something they hadn’t consistently known before.
That dream became a reality on April 25, 2024. Surrounded by friends and family at the McLean County Courthouse, Pacha officially adopted Walter, William, Haven, and Mavric. Pacha recalls, “When it came time to affirm that I was indeed asking the court to make the children mine, I became so overwhelmed with emotion that I had to take a moment before I could even speak the words ‘Yes, I am.’” Even the Courthouse Judge became emotional seeing this family come together.
Today, Hilary and all five of her children are thriving. On their one-year adoption anniversary, the family cuddled up for a cozy home movie night, surrounded by the smell of popcorn, warm pizza, and the sound of laughter echoing through their home. This last year has been filled with spontaneous dance parties in the yard, ice cream and pool floaties, cheering at CornBelters baseball games, and small, beautiful moments that strengthen the love they share.
The family continues to participate in The Baby Fold’s Adoption Support and Preservation program, which provides essential post-adoption services. “It’d be easy for an agency to say ‘You’re on your own’ after an adoption is finalized, but that doesn’t happen with The Baby Fold. Their post-adoption work in the community is impressive with respite, camps, and therapies. They think of everything.”
Looking back on her journey, Pacha is filled with gratitude. “I honestly can’t imagine life without them,” she says. “This was all meant to be.”