12-Year-Old Hopes For Something in The Ballpark of a Family - 8 News NOW

When you stand alone on the pitcher's mound at Cashman Field and the stands are empty, it's a lonesome feeling -- kinda like being a foster child. Ask Jessica. She could tell you. She's 12 and she's this week's Wednesday's Child.

First impressions are hard to shake, and your first impression of the baseball field at Cashman is that the place is big. Dave and Jessica had the whole of the Las Vegas 51's playing field to themselves for an afternoon. And the first thing they did was explore.

Jessica is not afraid to talk about herself. She's a good kid who understands what went wrong in her life.

"Well, my mom, she wasn't a good mom, and so she lost custody. So then, I went to live with my grandparents and then they didn't, weren't treating me right either. And my sister finally had the courage to tell," says Jessica.

Since then, Jessica's been in 'n' out of several different foster homes. She's had therapy to deal with the emotional challenges of that and she really works at it.

"There are things she doesn't understand, but she wants to understand so she asks a lot of questions, and she won't pretend she knows an answer," says Noel, her Wraparound caseworker.

Jessica is bright. She's an artist, likes to draw, likes music and doesn't have to have everyone's approval. "I'm a person that thinks, that doesn't think of other people and what they think of me."

While at the stadium, Dave and Jessica even got the chance to talk to a couple of the 51's players, tried on a glove, got some autographs and a souvenir or two. But what Jessica most desires is just a place to call home.

"Because I want a home that I can stay in, that can't like be moved, or people to check on me. Actually live normal, go over to my friend's house without having to sign something, or go somewhere without supervision all the time," says Jessica.

"She's the most charming girl I've ever met. She's just so amazing to me. She has just survived through a lot, yet she has a smile on her face, a hug for you when you see her, just a very cheerful girl who I admire," says Noel.

We're hoping for a two-parent family, here, but not ruling out any qualified application. Actually younger kids would be okay, 'cause Jessica gets along well with little kids.

Get the process started today by calling the Las Vegas office of the Adoption Exchange at 436-6335.