“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but after hearing my story, you will only see one—redemption.
This was the first time I saw my son and the first time I knew that I needed to change.
I was twenty-five, divorced, and living in a cycle of brokenness and addiction. I started having children ten years earlier; there were three others and I did not have custody of any of them. My boyfriend wanted me to have an abortion, but when I chose life, he chose to leave.
As soon as Isiah was born, I was aware he would be removed from me and even though I was heartbroken about how much I had let my child down, I was relieved he made it out alive.
I had used meth right before I went into labor, no prenatal care, and lots of birthing complications. I was in bad shape and to say I had hit rock bottom would be an understatement.
But my story didn’t end like that; it was actually just starting.
That was the last day I chose drugs. I went to rehab and accepted religion into my life. I made every parent visit, did every class, and passed every drug test. I worked my butt off to reunify just eight months later.
Today my marriage has been restored, I am in the process of getting my GED, and healing from many years of unprocessed trauma. It’s now been twenty-two months and all four of my kids are back together, with me, in my care.
I’m thankful for the foster mom who felt my brokenness and gave me the support and love that I didn’t feel worthy of. She saw my hurting heart and when all the odds were stacked against me—she never gave up on me, she fought alongside for my redemption.”
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This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Real Life Foster Mom. Submit your own story here.
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