I Foster a Medically Complicated Child. It's More than Worth It.
Image courtesy of Abby Riley
Montana is facing a foster care crisis. As of December, 2,600 Montana children were in foster care because they had been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families. At 406 Families, we are spending the summer learning more about foster care through our contributor Abby Riley. Read more of Abby’s writing about foster care here, here, here.
When our family first became licensed for foster care several years ago, we were asked if we’d consider various special needs - autism, severe mental health diagnoses, medical complexity. Because I’m an RN, we were encouraged to consider taking placements of children with complex medical needs. And to be honest - that sounded really scary. My fearful, selfish brain initially thought, “It’s one thing to clock in for a twelve hour shift at the hospital and then clock out and go home. It’s another thing entirely to invite medical complexity into our family full time”.
But we said that yes, we were open to it. And a few years passed without ever being called about a medically needy child.
Until last fall, when we got the call for our baby girl. Micro preemie. Chronic lung disease. G-tube fed. A long, complex NICU stay - now ready to come home and join a family. On paper, it was terrifying.
Despite being scared, we said yes. I had a sleepover in the NICU to learn all of her cares. The following morning she came home, along with bags and boxes of medical equipment.
And let me tell you - what was scary on paper has been nothing short of beautiful in real life. She is so full of joy. Our entire family is obsessed with her and so in love. We have all learned and adapted to what it means to care for a medically complex baby, and now almost a year in, it all feels like second nature.
It is one of the greatest joys of my life to mother this sweet, sweet baby. I love her with all of my heart and I am so thankful that we didn’t let the “what if’s” and nagging fears stop us from saying yes to her (and the special needs that came with her).
She is more than worth it.
Every child, regardless of their needs, deserves a home, a family, to call their own. And we are so very thankful to be hers.
