CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Today was adoption day for the Pincelli-Hammock family.
“He's going to be officially family,” said Chelsi Pincelli, mom.
Today, Chelsi and Michael officially became Auden Jack’s, or “AJ's” parents; a day they thought would never come.
“I found out years ago that I can't have children and I had to have a surgery so I know for a fact that I can’t,” said Pincelli.
Months ago, a friend of the family reached out to Chelsi and Michael asking them for a favor; a favor to adopt her child and give him a life she wouldn't be able to.
“We decided to say yes and went to all the appointments along the way,” said Pincelli.
“I felt like we had a lot of love as a family and we had that unit that just could use that extra person to just love on and really embrace,” said Michael Hammock, AJ’s dad.
AJ will be the second adopted child in their household. Six-year-old Audrey was adopted three years ago by Chelsi’s parents but she calls Chelsi and Michael, mom and dad.
The family says after realizing the need for foster and adoptive parents in the county and weighing their desire for a child of their own, it seemed like the right thing to do.
In Nueces county there are currently 400 foster children. For this family, adoption was not only an easy decision, but an answered prayer.
“I’m happy that I have, and I wouldn't have it any other way,” said Pincelli.
The hammocks say they're also considering adopting an older child in the foster care system sometime in the future.