Sometimes first responders witness the worst moments in people's lives and help them through the crisis. Other times, the bond built in tragedy can last forever. That's what happened for one Arizona family whose lives changed forever when a police officer responded to a sad case.
Brian Zach, lieutenant for Kingman Police Department, responded to a call in March of 2018 that involved a sweet little girl. The young girl named Kaila had suffered abuse, but Brian was there to comfort her while the investigation went on. He colored with her and they ate a snack together, and he helped her get through the night.
Two years later, Kaila is now a part of Brian's family. He and his wife, Cierra, adopted the girl who captured his heart that night, and now their bond will last forever.
Brian, already a parent to teenagers, said to AZFamily that he responds to a lot of child abuse calls, and he always wants to take the kids out of the bad situation. He does what he can to comfort the children in those situations, but many times he doesn't get to do more than be with the child for that one terrible night.
This time, though, he learned that the foster care office was having a hard time finding a place for little Kaila to stay. So, he and his wife volunteered to bring the little girl home. She only had a sippy cup and a bag of clothes that didn't fit, so the Zachs stocked up on supplies and got the little one a bed and a high chair and other things to meet her needs.
Cierra told Good Morning America that she bonded quickly with Kaila, too. Within a couple of days the girl was calling her mommy, even as she was healing from the injuries that she received.
The foster care process took about 30 months as the family worried that the little girl might be returned to her mother. In August, the adoption became official.
But the Zachs aren't done being there for kids in their time of need. They have decided to continue opening their home to foster kids who just need someone to be there for them one night or for longer.
SOURCES: AZFamily.com, Good Morning America