Gianna’s Journey: Family, Faith, and a Future

Gianna’s journey is a testament to the power of love, faith, and the incredible impact that ordinary godly men and women can have on the life of a vulnerable child. Born into circumstances that seemed hopeless, Gianna’s story is one of heartache, redemption, and the miraculous transformation that only God can bring.

Before Gianna was even born, God was preparing the path for her new life. Her journey began with Karie and Jay Kobel, a couple whose hearts were already open to fostering. In 2000, Karie, a single woman passionate about helping others, found herself drawn to work with adults with special needs. After obtaining certification to open her own adult family home, she redirected her focus to fostering. Karie opened her home to pre-teen girls in the foster care system, making a profound difference in their lives.

As the years passed, Karie’s fostering journey continued, and in 2005, she met Jay through one of her foster daughters. The two quickly fell in love, and their relationship grew as they began fostering together. They eventually adopted their first foster daughter and welcomed two biological daughters into their family. Despite these blessings, Karie and Jay chose to continue fostering, opening their hearts and home to children in need.

Jay often reflects on the early days of fostering with the same passion he felt at the time, saying, “Each child that stepped through our threshold became ‘instant’ family. I would fight for them like they were my own.” Karie adds, “We were willing to do the best we could for each child, given their own unique circumstances.”

In April 2014, the Kobels faced a new challenge when they received a phone call about three young children—Peter, Lillie, and Gianna—who urgently needed a safe home. The children had been living in unsafe conditions, exposed to drugs and alcohol, and were being kept in hotel rooms with little more than moldy food and empty chip bags. Despite the difficulties ahead, Karie and Jay didn’t hesitate. “We did what we needed to do,” Jay recalls. “We said, yes.”

The journey ahead for these children, especially for Gianna, was filled with immense challenges. Gianna had never experienced human touch and would arch and scream when anyone tried to hold or feed her. As Jay recalls, “We all wanted to pick up the cute little baby, but it just wasn’t possible for quite some time.” Gianna’s road to healing was long and difficult, but the loving care and compassion she received in the Kobel home began to work wonders.

God’s grace and the dedication of the Kobel family were instrumental in Gianna’s transformation. Jay reflects, “To watch Gianna as she progressed, to see where she is now, is nothing short of the hand of God.” Even the children’s CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) referred to Gianna as a “miracle baby.”

The hope for children in foster care is always reunification with their biological families, but sometimes, for the sake of the children’s safety, parental rights need to be terminated. In March 2018, after four years of fostering Gianna and her siblings, the Kobels stood before a judge to officially adopt Gianna and her sister. Their adoption day is fondly referred to as “Gotcha Day,” a day when Gianna became part of their forever family.

Today, Gianna is an 11-year-old with a vibrant personality and a love for sports, including volleyball and basketball. She speaks highly of her family, calling her dad “Big Bear” and her brother her hero. One special person in Gianna’s life is Tom Wilsmann, a local volunteer with Kingdom Workers Foster Support. Tom, affectionately called “Grandpa Tom,” has been a constant presence in Gianna’s life, driving her and her siblings to sports practices and even taking them on treat runs to Kwik Trip.

Gianna’s transformation is a powerful reminder of God’s grace, and how, through the love and sacrifice of others, He can turn tragedy into a story of hope. Gianna’s journey is a living example of Romans 5:3-4: “...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Gianna’s story shows us how God can use even the most broken situations to bring about something beautiful.

As Gianna continues to grow, the Kobel family remains a source of strength, love, and support. Together, they have shown that with faith, love, and perseverance, even the most difficult journeys can lead to a life filled with purpose, beauty, and hope.

Want to learn more about the impact of Foster Support? Follow our journey and see how love changes lives every day.