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Friday, June 29th, will probably be forever etched in my mind as one of the most wonderful and meaningful days in my career. It was just pouring rain and I was on my way to place two teen sisters in one of our foster homes when I received a call and an email (I have one of those Blackberry things) about the need to place a sibling group of 7. The State worker wanted to place all 7 in one home if possible. WKUMFS, a partner program of Omni Visions, had just approved a family who said they would take children of any age, any sex and also said they were open to sibling groups. I talked with our Recruiter/Trainer and then decided to call our family. When the foster mother answered, I asked her if she was sitting down. She laughed and said yes. I told her I needed a home for 7 kids ages 1 to 13. I said I didn’t know much except they came from a home with no running water, sewage running under the floor, windows boarded up and that the kids had lice and scabies. The one year old weighed 11 pounds. I told our foster mother the kids were at a hospital being checked by medical staff. After I finished, the foster mother said, “they need a home and I have one for them – bring them on”!
You can not imagine what runs through your mind and heart when you hear a response like that but it was a very uplifting feeling. Foster parents are so special; and wonderful; and amazing; and called to do what they do. Of that, I am convinced. God calls people to do all kinds of things and I know He calls folks to be foster parents because they tell us that all the time. We had one of our Resource Coordinators meet the state workers at the hospital and then they transported the children to our foster home. The foster mother already had one of her daughters bring over a baby bed, medical supplies to treat the lice and scabies and to be there to help. When the children arrived, it became a little assembly line as each child was bathed, medically treated, given clean clothes and fed supper. It was a work of unconditional love and pretty amazing to watch I’m told. Our foster mother is very organized and with seven children, I’m thinking that skill comes in pretty handy!
Since that wonderful Friday, the children are doing great. The one year old now weighs 13 pounds and is eating solid food. We are testing the school age children to see where they are educationally. The most special part of their new life is the bond they have with both the foster mother and foster father. They get hugs and kisses like all kids deserve. They get to play outside, go to malls, swim and do what all kids should be able to do. The community and the foster family’s church are a big support and have bought food and clothes for the children. The foster father is an over the road truck driver but he calls every evening and all the children get to talk to him and when he comes home, they all want to sit in his lap and tell him about their exciting adventures!
Do the children have problems, absolutely they do and some days are difficult. However, they have security now. The have trust in our family that they will be taken care of and, while they might not know everything about their future, they have a peace inside that tells them things are going to be ok now. Our foster family gave something to these 7 beautiful children that no one else could give, they gave themselves.
As a P.S., the two sisters that I placed that same day are also doing great!
Bill Heaton
Director, WKUMFS & Omni Visions, KY
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