Tammy is an animated and engaging 9-year-old girl with a captivating smile, expressive eyes and an infectious giggle. She enjoys being read to and spending individual time with her caregivers.

Tammy also likes to play outside with her siblings and especially enjoys riding her bike. She is a big fan of Chuck E. Cheese and said she once had a birthday party at the kid-friendly site.

Tammy and her siblings Crystal, 13, and Gene, 7, visited Great Skates in Bangor in early September for an afternoon of fun in conjunction with a filming session for a series of “Thursday’s Child” television segments on WABI 5.

While Tammy was open to trying many different games that she had never played before – and showed a rather unique technique in playing pool – she was especially fond of the game Wacky Gator, in which she had to bonk randomly appearing alligators on the head with a padded mallet to knock them back into their holes.

The exchange between Tammy and the talking gators was quite comical to watch, as the gators spouted phrases like “Now, I’m really angry,” to which Tammy would respond, “I’m gonna get you,” and knock the plastic gators into submission as she danced around and caused her light-up sneakers to emit flashing strobes of red and yellow.

Tammy’s skill at Wacky Gator and Skee Ball earned her a stream of prize coupons that exceeded her in height when stretched out. Before leaving the center, Tammy exchanged the tickets with Great Skates staff member Judy Ellis for several small prizes.

Tammy and her siblings came into the care of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in February 2003.

Tammy is in the fourth grade and receives special education services. While she is significantly delayed in all academic areas, Tammy enjoys school and is liked by her peers and teachers. She has made significant progress since entering DHHS care and responds well to guidance.

Tammy is one of 221 Maine children in Maine DHHS care seeking an adoptive home. For information about Tammy or other children available for adoption, please contact A Family for ME at (877) 505-0545 or visit www.afamilyforme.org.

Based in Gardiner, A Family for ME is a nonprofit program that works in collaboration with Maine DHHS to find foster and adoptive families for Maine children in care.