Journalists often spend countless hours beyond a 40-hour work week to properly tell the stories that paint a picture of the communities they serve.
It’s also not known to be one of the highest paying professions.
But some journalists make that sacrifice because they know that their work sometimes does good.
Retired newscaster Gloria Campos has tried to help more than 350 children get adopted over the 25 years on her show that profiles foster children in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in a TV segment on WFAA-TV titled “Wednesday’s Child.”
About 75 percent of the children Campos featured on her show would end up getting adopted. Including an 8-Year-Old named Ke’onte.
Ke’onte was adopted shortly after appearing on Campos’ segment.
Unfortunately, that adoption didn’t work out and he was placed back into the foster care system.
“I have been moved to three different homes and the adoption didn’t go really well,” Ke’onte said as a child on camera.~~
During that time he was overmedicated with mind-altering drugs. He eventually got to speak to Congress about this experience.
Now he’s off medication completely, is a runner and hiker, and hopes to study broadcasting like Campos.
Campos featured Ke’onte on her show for the second time and that time his future parents, Carol and Scott Cook, were watching.
“He just kind of spoke to us through the video,” Scott Cook told WFAA in a tribute video for Campos’ retirement celebration. “He’s definitely our son our child and we love him very much.”
“I’d like to say thank you for putting him on the second time,” Carol Cook told WFAA . “Because not only did you bring us the child that God wanted us to have — and we wouldn’t have seen him otherwise — but you’ve also helped him touch millions through him being able to talk about his story.”
During that video, Campos how she immediately knew who Ke’onte was.
“He was the karate boy,” she told her colleague. “So smart John, and it broke my heart when that first adoption didn’t go through for time.”
You can tell that Campos really does recall every child she interviews and that each of their stories are special to her.
You can tell that this was something that she did from her heart. That’s when a 14-year-old Ke’onte jumped out and surprised her.
“I want to say to her thank you so much, because you’ve made my life worthwhile and you’ve helped me become the person I am right now,” Ke’onte said in the video.
Watch Campos’ tearful reaction to seeing Ke’onte doing so well so many years later.
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