Spring is often seen as a time of hope. Coming out of the winter season, people are renewed by seeing early spring flowers come up, buds on trees beginning to leaf and the warmth of the sun getting higher in the sky, eggs hatching and baby animals. Our final story in this series, is a story that brings hope – hope for the children and youth that come into our homes, hope for their futures and fresh starts.
In this blog series, we invite you to journey into the heart of our local foster and kinship caregiving community. These are real stories from extraordinary people who have opened their homes and hearts to children in need. In each story, we’ll share a new narrative, shining a light on the challenges, triumphs, and quiet moments of connection that define their experiences.
To honor the privacy of those involved, all names and identifying details have been changed, but the authenticity and spirit of these stories remain intact.
Join us as we celebrate the caregivers in our community and the profound difference they make every day. Let these stories inspire you, move you, and deepen your understanding of the vital role foster and kinship caregivers play in building stronger communities.
Let’s explore love, hope, healing, and care—one story at a time.
Fostering Hope
I received an unexpected call on Canada Day from a biological Dad of a young girl I had in care from age of about 6 months of age until two years old. He said he and his daughter were thinking about their blessings on Canada Day and they thought of her foster family so he called the number hoping he could reach me.
The circumstances for her coming into care were complicated and initially the relationships with her family were strained. I tried to embrace the family, including the grandmother and we stayed connected until she was about 12 years old, when they moved to BC.
What could have been a difficult and tragic time for them he said turned out to be one of their greatest blessings. She is now 22, still navigating some lifelong deficits and soon to be graduating in 2025 from a Veterinary Medicine Program. They are hoping I can attend her graduation.
When the children we love move on to unknown futures and our hearts ache, there is a much bigger future than I can imagine in those moments. The resilience and determination many of the children I have cared for inspires me, (as does this father). It gives hope.
