In their own words...
I was put in foster care when I was 7 years old and the first home I stayed in about 4 months. I, then, got to go back home for about 4 months and then back into foster care which didn’t work out and I was moved again. My third placement was in the home of Charles and Betty Hastings. My foster mom was at a foster parent conference and my foster dad was told I would only be there for the weekend, but it was for five years and then the worker told me I needed to be adopted.
I didn’t want to be adopted at first, but at the age of 12, my worker, with the help of my foster mom help me to decide that this was best for me. It was six months before the adoption took place and the judge made special arrangements since my foster dad was very sick with lung cancer.
I had helped my foster dad put up a new ceiling in the dining room and the living room and finished right before my adoption. My adoption was May 1, 2003 and my dad died June 1, 2003.
I have an older brother and two older sisters, but I’m the only one still at home.
I am in the ninth grade at school and plan to graduate and going on to college, but first I may go into the military first.
I think it is nice for kids that need a family to have parents that can adopt them and give them a good home. I might even consider adopting a child later in my life.
I have my mom and dad to thank for the adoption because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’d probably in a group home or another foster home. I thank them giving me a good place to come home to.