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This past year has been the best year of Matthew and Whitney Cradic’s lives. The Kingsport couple became parents for the first time, to an amazing and loving son named Joshua.

However, this young boy did not come into the Cradic’s lives in the traditional way. Rather, he fell into their laps one night in August and once he did, the young couple just knew he was meant to be with them.

The Cradic’s, who will celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary in April, have no biological children of their own. The couple tried for years having a child, even utilizing local fertility clinics, but all to no avail.

A few years ago, the couple resigned themselves to the fact they would never have children.

“We talked about adopting and we’ve been foster parents for years, but we never could have children on our own,” Whitney explained. “It was something we just accepted.”

Then in August of 2023, Joshua came into their lives.

The chance encounter took place when Matthew, a patrolman with the Kingsport Police Department, responded to a welfare check at Model City Apartments. Officers found a woman intoxicated and the apartment unfit for the four juveniles residing there.

One of the juveniles had called 9-11 saying there wasn’t any food in the house.

“Officers responded to the scene, and I found Joshua (who was 10 years old at the time) at Walgreens trying to find something to eat,” Matthew recounts of that night. “We arrested the mother and DCS (Department of Children’s Services) took custody of the kids. While I was talking to Joshua, he looked at me and asked, “can I come home with you?”

Though Matthew couldn’t take Joshua home that night, the young boy’s question lingered in his mind all night while he worked the graveyard shift. Matthew eventually texted his wife Whitney – a records clerk with the Kingsport Police Department – about his encounter with Joshua and whether they should invite him into their home.

“Joshua reminds me of how I grew up. I see me in him,” Matthew remembers telling Whitney, to which she replied, “Absolutely he can come stay with us.”

A day or two later, DCS signed off on the Cradic’s house and Whitney went to Isaiah House to pick up Joshua and bring him to his new home.

“He’s been with us ever since,” Whitney said. “We adopted him December 6, 2024. He’s officially a Cradic and he’ll tell anyone who will listen.”

Today, Joshua is 11 years old and in the sixth grade at Church Hill Middle School. He played for the football team last fall and just made the baseball team for the upcoming spring season. Not too bad for a kid who had never played a sport before in his life.

“I had to teach him in three days how to catch a ball with a glove,” Matthew said.

The Cradic’s have a family history of fostering and adoption. The couple have fostered children in the past and Whitney has an adopted 12-year-old sister. Bringing Joshua into the family fold did not seem out of the ordinary and was a decision supported by Matthew’s and Whitney’s families.

“It’s been very exciting and rewarding to have Joshua,” Matthew said of the whole experience. “He’s a great kid and he’s going to be a great adult.”

Whitney agreed, adding the past year has been the best year of their lives.

“It’s crazy how everything came about, but in the end we’re blessed to have him in our lives,” Whitney said.


Chance encounter leads to Kingsport couple completing their family

By Matthew Lane - Editor

This past year has been the best year of Matthew and Whitney Cradic’s lives. The Kingsport couple became parents for the first time, to an amazing and loving son named Joshua.

However, this young boy did not come into the Cradic’s lives in the traditional way. Rather, he fell into their laps one night in August and once he did, the young couple just knew he was meant to be with them.

The Cradic’s, who will celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary in April, have no biological children of their own. The couple tried for years having a child, even utilizing local fertility clinics, but all to no avail.

A few years ago, the couple resigned themselves to the fact they would never have children.

“We talked about adopting and we’ve been foster parents for years, but we never could have children on our own,” Whitney explained. “It was something we just accepted.”

Then in August of 2023, Joshua came into their lives.

The chance encounter took place when Matthew, a patrolman with the Kingsport Police Department, responded to a welfare check at Model City Apartments. Officers found a woman intoxicated and the apartment unfit for the four juveniles residing there.

One of the juveniles had called 9-11 saying there wasn’t any food in the house.

“Officers responded to the scene, and I found Joshua (who was 10 years old at the time) at Walgreens trying to find something to eat,” Matthew recounts of that night. “We arrested the mother and DCS (Department of Children’s Services) took custody of the kids. While I was talking to Joshua, he looked at me and asked, “can I come home with you?”

Though Matthew couldn’t take Joshua home that night, the young boy’s question lingered in his mind all night while he worked the graveyard shift. Matthew eventually texted his wife Whitney – a records clerk with the Kingsport Police Department – about his encounter with Joshua and whether they should invite him into their home.

“Joshua reminds me of how I grew up. I see me in him,” Matthew remembers telling Whitney, to which she replied, “Absolutely he can come stay with us.”

A day or two later, DCS signed off on the Cradic’s house and Whitney went to Isaiah House to pick up Joshua and bring him to his new home.

“He’s been with us ever since,” Whitney said. “We adopted him December 6, 2024. He’s officially a Cradic and he’ll tell anyone who will listen.”

Today, Joshua is 11 years old and in the sixth grade at Church Hill Middle School. He played for the football team last fall and just made the baseball team for the upcoming spring season. Not too bad for a kid who had never played a sport before in his life.

“I had to teach him in three days how to catch a ball with a glove,” Matthew said.

The Cradic’s have a family history of fostering and adoption. The couple have fostered children in the past and Whitney has an adopted 12-year-old sister. Bringing Joshua into the family fold did not seem out of the ordinary and was a decision supported by Matthew’s and Whitney’s families.

“It’s been very exciting and rewarding to have Joshua,” Matthew said of the whole experience. “He’s a great kid and he’s going to be a great adult.”

Whitney agreed, adding the past year has been the best year of their lives.

“It’s crazy how everything came about, but in the end we’re blessed to have him in our lives,” Whitney said.