Todd and Carrie were licensed in May of 2016. After waiting for a good match for their family, they were chosen as the adoptive family for a young boy with medical needs. After a transition period, he was placed in their home in April of 2018.  Todd and Carrie were thrilled to finally begin their foster care journey. They worked closely with the previous foster family, his team, and the service providers to ensure that the child was healthy and happy in their care. They have also attended additional training to continue gaining valuable parenting skills to meet his needs now and in the future. Todd and Carrie are happy to announce that they were able to officially adopt two year old Kane in March of 2019. Todd, Carrie, and Kane live in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

What was most encouraging after you had a foster placement?
How quickly Kane felt comfortable in our home.

What do you wish you would have known before you started fostering?
That sometimes you may not know exactly what to do in every situation and that that’s okay. . I’ve always been someone that plans everything in advance but with a toddler sometimes things happen and you just have to roll with it. Not every day is going to go according to plan.

What has been the funniest moment since you started fostering?
Probably the day Kane shoved peas up his nose and we couldnt get them out, which resulted in a trip to Urgent Care. They were quickly removed and we still laugh about it.

Who is your greatest support and how?
Where do begin? Our family and friends have all been an amazing support system for us. Kane was welcomed with so much love by everyone. The entire team on Kane’s case were all amazing as well. He had an incredible Adoption Specialist, Jaime Ley, and our licensing worker, Christina Robb, supported Todd and I through the entire process. Our Case manager, Cristina Leamann, has been our greatest support throughout the entire process of fostering and adopting Kane. We remain close and talk often.

What surprised you the most when you began fostering?
How instant the love would be for foster son.

Describe your best day so far. Describe your worst day so far.
Our best day was the day we legally became a forever family. We feel that Kane has been our son since the day we met, but adoption day made it official.
Our worst day was 2 days before this last Christmas when Kane ruptured his ear. We spent 6 hours in the ER and, as a mom, it was a horrible feeling knowing there was nothing I could do to make the pain go away until his medicine began healing it.

What is your favorite family activity?
Swimming. Kane loves the water and its great exercise and provides lots of sensory input.

What is the favorite go to family dinner at your house?
Breakfast for dinner. Always a big hit!

What is your favorite TV show?
Right now we watch Sesame Street. Elmo is Kane’s favorite and we love that it is a very diverse and educational show.

How has your view of foster care changed since you started?
We’ve realized what a beautiful journey of love fostering can be. Kane was our first placement and taught us that families are built by love, not DNA. Without becoming foster parents we would not have met our beautiful son . It took some time, but our wait was worth every minute to be matched with our sweet boy.