Jacki keeps his photograph where she can see it from her desk. Darrell is smiling in that picture, and Jacki remembers it as a day when he had a really good time.

But good times were marred by the fact that no matter what we did, we were unsuccessful in finding a permanent family for him.

Darrell’s disabilities led to his death when he was still just a teenager. As a ward of the government, he was given a pauper’s funeral. The only people in attendance were his child welfare caseworker and a handful of staff members from The Adoption Exchange.

We count 6,281 adoptions to date, but Jacki says Darrell’s photograph reminds her that time is running out for far too many children who are still waiting. Like Darrell, they need the love of a family.