2-Year-old boy adopted over Zoom after pandemic canceled court hearing

The ongoing pandemic may be able to stop us from seeing our loved ones, but it won't stop the love we share with them.

And one couple in Forth Smith, Arkansas, proved they weren't going to stand by and let a canceled court hearing stop them from welcoming a new child into their family.

Kimberly Wieneke and her husband have been foster parents for over a year, and since welcoming two-year-old Jaden into their home last May, they knew they wanted to officially welcome him as their own son.

Kimberly told CNN affiliate KNWA: "In my heart, I already knew I wanted him."

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Then the couple found out that Jaden was going to be put up for adoption in February.

"We knew the day they terminated [the parental rights] that we would be adopting April 16," Ms Wieneke told the news station.

Knowing that April 16 was going to be a special day for them all, the family started making plans. However, the outbreak and subsequent impact of the novel coronavirus meant that plans were forced to change.

As many of us know first-hand, the ongoing pandemic has changed our day-to-day lives - from how we shop to groceries to how we communicate with loved ones. But it has also meant that many court hearings are now conducted online.

And Jaden's adoption would be no different.

Wieneke explained: "We see all the pictures after the adoption day - they're standing there with the judge, everyone is smiling. We didn't get that."

Instead, Jaden's adopting hearing took place over a Zoom video call. But despite the unconventional procedure, Kimberly says it didn't take away from how special the day was for the family, telling KNWA:

"Sometimes it feels like not real, I mean we sit and look at him and we're like, 'He's ours.'"

Adoption Specialist Ashley Elam and Foster Care Worker Addie Martin both told KNWA that family services have remained committed to childrens' safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Martin said: "It's really changed our whole interaction with these kids and the ability to check in on them."

Congratulations to Jaden and the Wieneke family!

We are urging all of our readers to adhere to the advice from their respective governments and medical bodies, and practice social distancing and self-isolation where required. Together, we will beat this.