The Great Rescue Plan
Donation protected
Being foster parents has changed our world view. We were blind to the need that many children have for safety, love and permanency. These needs were not thousands of miles away but in our own back yards.
Our journey began in 2015 when we opened our home to foster children. About a week after receiveing our foster care license we "got the call", about a little boy, three months old, who needed us. When we said yes I ran off to Target to get diapers and a few outfits for a three month old.
A few hours later we marvled at this tiny little guy, only 5 pounds at three months old with a mishapen head and face. Who ever would imagine that a three month old would need newborn diapers and clothes? Back to the store we went to get just what he needed. That night he slept so peacefully for several hours.
The little man needed quite a bit of medical appointments including weekly physical therapy. He ate almost constantly and began to fatten up. We worried about his lack of eye contact but later learned this is all related to his trauma and attachment issues. We were committed to give him everything he needed to know he was both safe and loved.
Several months went by before we "got the call" about his sisters. Again we said yes and immediately made room by brining the baby into our room and giving his room to his sisters. This time ran out to get bunk beds, twin sheets, girly stuff to decorate their room and bathroom. It soon became evident to us that these kids had been through a lot and that we needed a whole lot more training and support in order to help them heal. And heal they did.
We did so many great things with them. We gave them their first Thanksgiving Dinner, their first trick or treating on Halloween, their first air plane ride, their first birthday parties, first Christmas and first Chanukkah. We forget that not all children live lives knowing they are treasured. Not all kids feel safe. Not all kids have what they need. The girls loved when we could drop them off or pick them up from school in the car. They wanted to be like the other kids with parents who were present and visible.
After two years the children were free for adoption and at the time we had two of the siblings in our home, a boy and a girl, who we longed to adopt. The third sibling was living elsewhere getting the treatment she needed to heal. We did all that was asked of us and when we made it known that were interested in adopting two out of three of the sibling group we were denied. We had not seen that coming and were in shock. These lovely children had become a part of our family in every way. Likewise our community made up of great friends had loved them like belong with us, all of us.
It is a humbling experience to go through the process of letting go of children that you love. Eventually the department of children and families found another family that would take all three children. We trusted that letting them go was the right thing to do even though it hurt like hell. On December 31, 2016 we handed them over, kissing them for the last time.
Much like any other loss we retreated into each others arms for comfort. We put away all of the pictures of the kids because looking at their beautiful faces only brought more tears. Several months went by before we learned that the children were not adopted and were in fact BACK IN FOSTER CARE!
We are on a rescue mission to get them out of foster care and into our home FOREVER as our children. This has been a tremendous fight that has waged on for months and looks like it may go on into 2018. Who is looking out for the best interest of these children? Who will ensure their right to permenancy? Every child deserves a home. And we want to be their home and their family.
Our application to adopt has been denied. So we are doing what we can in the courts to get them back. Pooling together our resources with family we have exhausted what we can do financially to pay our legal fees.
The good news is that we are not alone. We have you, our friends, and friends of friends. Here is what you can do to help us on this mission: first, pray. Pray that we are reunited with this kids that we love so much very soon. Second, you can give. We are looking for those who are able to make a gift to assist us in paying our legal fees. At this time we have a bill for over $1,000 in past due services that is due by Friday November 3, 2017. We are in need in an additional amount of $6500 to cover the cost of depositions and fees related to hearing by November 30, 2017. Finally, the last way you can help us on this rescue mission is to share our story with your friends and family. The more people actively praying and giving will help us achieve our goal.
We love you and need you and thank you in advance for helping us to rescue these kiddos that we love from foster care.
Our journey began in 2015 when we opened our home to foster children. About a week after receiveing our foster care license we "got the call", about a little boy, three months old, who needed us. When we said yes I ran off to Target to get diapers and a few outfits for a three month old.
A few hours later we marvled at this tiny little guy, only 5 pounds at three months old with a mishapen head and face. Who ever would imagine that a three month old would need newborn diapers and clothes? Back to the store we went to get just what he needed. That night he slept so peacefully for several hours.
The little man needed quite a bit of medical appointments including weekly physical therapy. He ate almost constantly and began to fatten up. We worried about his lack of eye contact but later learned this is all related to his trauma and attachment issues. We were committed to give him everything he needed to know he was both safe and loved.
Several months went by before we "got the call" about his sisters. Again we said yes and immediately made room by brining the baby into our room and giving his room to his sisters. This time ran out to get bunk beds, twin sheets, girly stuff to decorate their room and bathroom. It soon became evident to us that these kids had been through a lot and that we needed a whole lot more training and support in order to help them heal. And heal they did.
We did so many great things with them. We gave them their first Thanksgiving Dinner, their first trick or treating on Halloween, their first air plane ride, their first birthday parties, first Christmas and first Chanukkah. We forget that not all children live lives knowing they are treasured. Not all kids feel safe. Not all kids have what they need. The girls loved when we could drop them off or pick them up from school in the car. They wanted to be like the other kids with parents who were present and visible.
After two years the children were free for adoption and at the time we had two of the siblings in our home, a boy and a girl, who we longed to adopt. The third sibling was living elsewhere getting the treatment she needed to heal. We did all that was asked of us and when we made it known that were interested in adopting two out of three of the sibling group we were denied. We had not seen that coming and were in shock. These lovely children had become a part of our family in every way. Likewise our community made up of great friends had loved them like belong with us, all of us.
It is a humbling experience to go through the process of letting go of children that you love. Eventually the department of children and families found another family that would take all three children. We trusted that letting them go was the right thing to do even though it hurt like hell. On December 31, 2016 we handed them over, kissing them for the last time.
Much like any other loss we retreated into each others arms for comfort. We put away all of the pictures of the kids because looking at their beautiful faces only brought more tears. Several months went by before we learned that the children were not adopted and were in fact BACK IN FOSTER CARE!
We are on a rescue mission to get them out of foster care and into our home FOREVER as our children. This has been a tremendous fight that has waged on for months and looks like it may go on into 2018. Who is looking out for the best interest of these children? Who will ensure their right to permenancy? Every child deserves a home. And we want to be their home and their family.
Our application to adopt has been denied. So we are doing what we can in the courts to get them back. Pooling together our resources with family we have exhausted what we can do financially to pay our legal fees.
The good news is that we are not alone. We have you, our friends, and friends of friends. Here is what you can do to help us on this mission: first, pray. Pray that we are reunited with this kids that we love so much very soon. Second, you can give. We are looking for those who are able to make a gift to assist us in paying our legal fees. At this time we have a bill for over $1,000 in past due services that is due by Friday November 3, 2017. We are in need in an additional amount of $6500 to cover the cost of depositions and fees related to hearing by November 30, 2017. Finally, the last way you can help us on this rescue mission is to share our story with your friends and family. The more people actively praying and giving will help us achieve our goal.
We love you and need you and thank you in advance for helping us to rescue these kiddos that we love from foster care.
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather Drake
Organizer
Boca Raton, FL
Heather Drake
Beneficiary
