thedrifter
04-27-07, 07:27 AM
Lorraine Rivera Reports
From orphan to Marine: one woman's journey
April 26, 2007 08:28 PM
A baby girl was at the center of a custody battle between an Indian tribe and a family who wanted to adopt her, and years later she's with that family who loves her. Now she's graduating and plans to join the Marines; but none of it was easy.
Sydney Rodriguez looks a lot like her mom, but Antonia Casilla is not her biological mother.
"We had met her mother before and she said she wanted us to have her baby, so when she had her baby, we went to the hospital and brought her home just three days old we were so happy," Casilla said.
The celebration didn't last long the Pascua Yaqui tribe came knocking on their door and took baby Martina, as Sydney was known then, because the Casilla's were not members of the reservation.
Baby Martina went back to her birth mother who couldn't take care of her this is video from 1989, the story thrust into the media spotlight enough pressure and the Casilla's got the little girl back and are officially her guardians.
Sydney said, "I always sort of knew I wasn't their blood child but they're my family I'm their daughter and they're my parents."
Sydney will graduate from Cholla High School next month, among the top 100 students in her class, she's joining the Marine Corps but that's a decision that required her birth mother's consent. Sydney recalled, "But luckily Staff Sergeant worked his magic, he didn't give up for weeks he was able to track down my mom and get the consent."
Her mother Antonia said, "It's her dream, I didn't have a dream so I had to make sure my kids did."
Sgt. Billy Baker is a recruiter who works with Sydney, "She's got a lot of motivation and all it really takes to become a marine is a lot of heart and a lot of drive."
With every intention to count her blessings, she said, "That's what I'm working for a better life, in honor of them," and the life they gave her, embracing her daughter Antonia said, "I'm proud of her, very proud."
Ellie
From orphan to Marine: one woman's journey
April 26, 2007 08:28 PM
A baby girl was at the center of a custody battle between an Indian tribe and a family who wanted to adopt her, and years later she's with that family who loves her. Now she's graduating and plans to join the Marines; but none of it was easy.
Sydney Rodriguez looks a lot like her mom, but Antonia Casilla is not her biological mother.
"We had met her mother before and she said she wanted us to have her baby, so when she had her baby, we went to the hospital and brought her home just three days old we were so happy," Casilla said.
The celebration didn't last long the Pascua Yaqui tribe came knocking on their door and took baby Martina, as Sydney was known then, because the Casilla's were not members of the reservation.
Baby Martina went back to her birth mother who couldn't take care of her this is video from 1989, the story thrust into the media spotlight enough pressure and the Casilla's got the little girl back and are officially her guardians.
Sydney said, "I always sort of knew I wasn't their blood child but they're my family I'm their daughter and they're my parents."
Sydney will graduate from Cholla High School next month, among the top 100 students in her class, she's joining the Marine Corps but that's a decision that required her birth mother's consent. Sydney recalled, "But luckily Staff Sergeant worked his magic, he didn't give up for weeks he was able to track down my mom and get the consent."
Her mother Antonia said, "It's her dream, I didn't have a dream so I had to make sure my kids did."
Sgt. Billy Baker is a recruiter who works with Sydney, "She's got a lot of motivation and all it really takes to become a marine is a lot of heart and a lot of drive."
With every intention to count her blessings, she said, "That's what I'm working for a better life, in honor of them," and the life they gave her, embracing her daughter Antonia said, "I'm proud of her, very proud."
Ellie