Percell

by KYW's Larry Kane
Produced by Jim Melwert

Percell is 17 years old. And even though he's only one year from being an adult, he still wants a permanent family:

"I mean, my family wasn't there for me at all.  I didn't have anybody to say, 'I love you,' or 'Percell, do good,' or 'Percell, do this,' and really cared. 

"I mean, I had certain people, but it wasn't like a family thing.  But everything would be more important if I had a permanent family that just cared for me the whole time."

Percell says religion has helped keep him focused on becoming a good person.  He likes working with computers and is planning to go to college.  And Percell imagines coming home to his adoptive family for the holidays:

"That would be great, actually.  That would be really great, just sitting there and eating together, open the presents together, playing around or joking around with your family."

National Adoption Center spokeswoman Gloria Hochman says if you think 17 is too old to be adopted, just think of what your life was like when you were that age:

"You're on the brink between being an adolescent and growing up, and how important it was to you to have parents who were there for you and were able to guide you and answer your questions and ask you questions that made you think."

For more information, go to the web site of the Adoption Center of Delaware Valley, ACDV.org.