A Forever Family
I became a specialized foster parent to a four-year-old little boy named Ian in December 2003. He had been living in a psychiatric unit at a local hospital for six months, when I met him. Ian is an adorable little boy whose smile, bright eyes and fun personality lights up a room. Within minutes of him moving into my house, the cute little guy I had met at the hospital began to show his true colors- the symptoms of his traumatic history of abuse, chaos and neglect.
It broke my heart, to see such an innocent little boy hoard animal crackers because he thought he would never get any more, to hold him when he became so loud and aggressive he was in danger of hurting himself and others and to teach him not to throw food across the kitchen table and swear at me during dinner time.
Ian was a tough little guy, it hasn't been easy, but he has made tremendous progress over the past few years we have been together. He has shown me what resiliency truly means. Without a doubt, he has completed me.
Ian was only supposed to be in my foster home for 3-6 months, but his goal was changed from reunification to adoption soon after he moved in. I could not imagine my life without Ian, so I pursued the adoption track. On November 14, 2005 we legally made our family "a forever family." This year we celebrated our second adoption anniversary!
Cara Falconi, Winchester, MA
Nov. 15, 2007