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‘My heart was so happy’: 11-year-old girl’s reaction to learning she’ll be adopted goes viral
A video of an 11-year-old girl’s reaction to learning that she and her two siblings will be adopted by her foster family went viral. (Image source: Jackie Alexander and American Heritage of South Jordan)

‘My heart was so happy’: 11-year-old girl’s reaction to learning she’ll be adopted goes viral

A video of an 11-year-old girl’s reaction to learning she will be adopted by her foster family went viral, according to KUTV-TV.

Who was adopted?

KUTV reported that on Oct. 2, Tannah Butterfield, a sixth-grader at American Heritage School in South Jordan, Utah, was informed that a judge approved her foster parents' petition to adopt her and her two younger siblings.

Tannah’s adoptive mother called the school and asked the school’s office manager Jackie Alexander to tell Tannah the news.

When she learned her adoption was official, Tannah jumped into Alexander’s arms and didn’t let go.

In a now-viral Instagram post, Alexander shared footage of the moment caught by the school’s security cameras.

“This is pure testament that in a world full of turmoil and strife, there is still light and joy to be found in little everyday moments,” Alexander wrote:

A dear family I know has been fighting for as long as I can remember to adopt 3 of their foster children that attend our school. It's been hard to watch them fight this emotional battle. My love has grown for this family and I have learned so much from them as they have tried to remain positive despite many setbacks. Today my phone rang at my desk and it was my friend Jen telling me things FINALLY had come to an end and the courts were going to let them ADOPT the children!! She asked me if I would be sure to tell her sweet girl when she came to my desk for her daily visit. She knew she would want to know right away because she had been so worried. I don't think even I could understand myself what that moment would feel like. Our security cameras caught the moment perfectly.

“I cry as I type this,” she added. “In 12 years at this job, this is by far my best moment ever!! To tell a little girl that she gets her family forever takes the cake. I can't even describe that hug ... and thank heavens her mom doesn't mind that I kissed her a million times, and a million more after the film cuts off. A moment needed after waking up to another morning of devastating news on TV ... but a sweet reminder today that life can be and still is beautiful in spite of it all.”

What was the reaction?

Alexander told KUTV that the day the video was taken, she was feeling dejected after seeing reports about the deadly mass shooting that took place in Las Vegas, so she was thrilled to share good news with Tannah.

"I had to let people know there's a lot going on in the world, a lot of sadness but you know what? There's joy that happens every day," she said.

Tannah told KUTV the video captured "the best thing that's ever happened to me."

She said she’s spent the last two years wishing that a judge would allow her foster parents to become her forever parents.

“They’re just caring, loving, they take really good care of me,” she said.

Tannah said she was overjoyed when Alexander told her the news.

“My heart was so happy,” she said. “It was like, ‘ah,’ it was like screaming,” Tannah said.

The 11-year-old added that she hopes people watch the video and learn to “never, ever, ever give up” on their dreams.

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