A social worker named Alice Nitka placed me with the Halls in the 70's. Like my adopted mom and dad, Senator Nitka is one of my lifelong heroes. Her act as a social worker changed my life. When I speak to other social workers at University of Maryland I remind them how deep our roots run. I also talk about how much our children have changed our lives and how much Ems siblings are so connected. Our children are our little heroes.