National Adoption Day

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By Liz Tufts

Story Published: Nov 20, 2009 at 7:50 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2009 at 7:50 PM EDT

Thousands of children are in foster homes across the state, but 50 of them here locally finally have a permanent place to call home.

Robert and Jennifer Dellaripa of Westfield remember the exact moment when they first met their daughter Marianna. "It was February 17th, a Friday, " recalls Jennifer Dellaripa.

That was two years ago, when Marianna came to them as a foster child. The Dellaripa's were trying to start a family, but getting started wasn't easy. "She had problems where she couldn't have kids, " explains Robert Dellaripa.

So adopting a child was the obvious next choice for the Dellaripa's and when they met little Marianna they knew, she was was the one. "Right away you just know its the right one," explains Robert.

With applause and a big kiss, little Marianna became an official part of the Dellaripa family. For her parents, it was a long time coming "Almost the minute we brought her home we knew she was it. It was like we gave birth to her," says Robert Dellaripa.

Marianna is one of 50 children across Western Mass adopted on Friday during National Adoption Day.

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