Featured Family
The Ledbetter Family
Kary Ledbetter, a 57 year old widow, is both a foster and adoptive parent. She is the mother of 9 children, and grandmother of 14. She grew up in a family environment where the role of the mother was highly esteemed. In fact, her great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and two of her daughters have chosen to be foster parents. When Kary and her husband initially decided that they too would be foster parents, they had very clear expectations of what they could and could not do. “I have minor [physical] disabilities” says Kary, so they decided to foster a child who did not have special physical needs. But then they saw J.D., a three year old child who relied on a wheelchair for mobility and could not speak. “We watched the video and we all looked at each other. We knew he was part of our family.”
Kary’s husband died in 2002. Shortly after that time, an adoption disruption of two children took place in her home. To this day, she continues to grieve these losses. Kary now stresses the importance of families making long-term plans for their children. She serves as the president of the Idaho Foster and Adoptive Coalition. Her advocacy efforts cover a broad range. Mentoring foster and adoptive parents and writing material for the birth children in adoptive families is just some of the work she does.
Today, Kary’s son JD is thriving. He attends mainstream classes at school and he is able to participate in a variety of activities. His older brother Josh takes him snowboarding and swimming. “He puts a helmet on JD and carries him on the snowboard” Kary says with pride. J.D.’s sister Bethany works with him at home and in church. The two have also participated in swim meets together. Kary identifies her children as “amazing and generous. Every time I think it’s impossible, another door opens. Family support is one of the criteria for success.”