WEDNESDAY'S CHILD

Wednesday’s Child: Chevy, who dreams of becoming a game designer, has found his new home

Aug 31, 2022, 1:21 PM | Updated: Sep 2, 2022, 11:13 am

SALT LAKE CITY — It was in 2020 when KSL TV first introduced you to Chevy during a Wednesday’s Child feature. He was 16 years old at the time with an interest in developing video games.

“I really like the designing and the art part of it as well,” said Chevy during a visit to WildWorks – home of the award-winning interactive entertainment company that created the popular game “Animal Jam.”

Chevy spent four years living in state custody and hoped he’d soon find his forever family. But what Chevy didn’t know during that visit was a Utah couple wanted to meet him, and his life was about to change.

“We inquired about a few kids, and we heard back on Chevy and we felt like he was the best match for us,” said Jen, Chevy’s mother.

Chevy was first introduced to Jen and Brian in September of 2020; they said it was a strange time to get to know their future child because of the pandemic, but they found unique ways to make a connection.

“We’re doing it all online and over zoom, actually, and on his first visit, we were all wearing masks,” Jen recalled.

For Brian and Jen, adoption was always something they were interested in, and they wanted to share their home with a teenager.

“I just think teenagers, they’re still kids, and they need love and support. There’s a lot you’re going through and navigating so that was something that was important to me,” Jen said.

Raising a teenager can have its challenges, and even Chevy will admit there was a learning curve.

“I’m their first child, and I’m a teenager. So, I have different needs than a child,” Chevy said.

“The nice thing is you have a lot of people to support you, you have a team,” Jen explained. “We had a coordinator as a foster family, Chevy had a caseworker and an adoption coordinator, we had a guardian ad lie dim, we had a family therapist and pulled in another therapist.”

Together the trio navigated the adoption journey and built a bond.

“I think Chevy is an amazing, creative, loyal, outgoing person, and there are a lot of places life could take him and I’m looking forward to seeing where that is,” Jen expressed.

And eventually, Chevy was adopted.

“All the challenges that have been thrown at Chevy, and he’s answered them, it has been incredible to see, and he continues to answer them,” Brian said.

During the past two years, Brian and Jen have been there to support Chevy through graduating from high school and setting new life goals.

“[Graduation] just felt like a huge weight off all of our shoulders, and at that point, it felt like we grew as a family because we could take some space away from the need to finish school and focus on each other,” Brian said.

Together they have traveled and built new family memories.

“If you ever have the opportunity to take a teenager to the beach for the first time, you should do it,” laughed Jen as she showed pictures of Chevy in the ocean in California.

“It’s nice, and I feel like I’m safe and I’m wanted, and we do a lot of fun activities and feel like just a family,” Chevy expressed.

Brian and Jen are now helping Chevy prepare for the future. They’re helping him get a job and be safe for college in the fall.

“We talk a lot about in 10 years where he wants to be and who he wants to be and what’s that going to look like and what he has to do to get there,” Jen said. “And we just want to support him achieving those goals and getting there.”

“4 years from now, I really want to be done with college and then probably after that just try to figure out what I want to do for a job,” Chevy added.

Jen and Brian say Chevy has brought so much joy and adventure into their lives. In fact, Chevy has introduced taekwondo to Brian and now it’s an activity they enjoy doing together.

“I wouldn’t trade it for everything, having Chevy as my son, our son, our child has been the best experience of my life,” Brian said.

Chevy says he’s happy and that he’s finally found his forever family.

“It feels nice because it feels like I’m wanted,” Chevy said.

To learn more about Utah children living in foster care and the adoption process, please contact Raise the Future at 801-265-0444 or visit their website.

KSL 5 TV Live

Wednesday's Child

14-year-old Chea as she paints at the Easely Art Studio in West Jordan, Utah. (KSLTV)...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Chea loves to paint, draw to create masterpieces

On this week's Wednesday Child, Chea is a kind, outgoing, and a patient foster child who is looking for a family that will commit to helping her build her future.

11 months ago

(KSL TV)...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Kenzie, 15, loves reading fiction; hopes to find her forever family

Kenzie has lived in foster care since she was 3 years old. At the age of 10, she was adopted, but that didn’t work out and she returned to state custody. Now at 15, she's hoping to find her family.

1 year ago

(KSL TV)...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Manuel, 10, loves climbing; hopes to be adopted by an active, loving family

Manuel, 10, enjoys being active and playing sports. He's been living in foster care for more than five years and says he wants to remember what it feels like to have a loving and supportive family.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Autum, 13, dreams of living on a ranch with loving parents

Autum, 13, has been in foster care for almost a year. She loves ice skating and animals and dreams of living in the country on a ranch. She also hopes to be adopted by loving parents one day.

1 year ago

Wednesday's Children trio...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Siblings want family that will keep them together

At Airborne Trampoline Park in Draper it was only a matter of minutes before siblings Phillippe, Elias, and Lazuli were flipping into foam pits and scaling the trampoline padded walls.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Shara Park

Raise the Future chosen as Team Giannis’ beneficiary for NBA All-Star Game

As the NBA All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City approaches, several local charities have been chosen as beneficiaries, including Raise the Future, KSL TV’s Wednesday's Child partner.

1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...

Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.

Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...

Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.

notebook with password notes highlighted...

PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.

Wednesday’s Child: Chevy, who dreams of becoming a game designer, has found his new home