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.