Photographer: Brian Long
The Goka-Lee Family
The Goka-Lee Family
YY and Kate decided early on that foster-adoption was the way they wanted to start a family. They completed their Homestudy and were told about two siblings, Jasmine and Jadean, who needed a concurrent placement. They agreed to meet them, and as they say, the rest is history. Jasmine was three and Jadean was 13 months when they came home with Kate and YY. Their adoption was finalized three years later. Along the way, Kazu was born into the family. Kate & YY marvel at how tight-knit the kids are – constantly romping around like a big pile of puppies. When Jadean was placed, he had some severe developmental delays and was later diagnosed with apraxia of speech. He's a determined and hard-working toddler, and intensive therapy has helped him blossom into a talkative, quirky jokester. Through all the ups and downs, the Goka-Lees know that adoption is a life-long process, and that trans-racial adoption takes additional thought and self-reflection. They love being a blended Mexican, Puerto Rican, African American, Japanese, Chinese and white family. They love being moms to their three beautiful children.