When Brett turned 57, he made the decision to become a foster parent. At an information session about fostering, he learned about the urgent need for foster parents in Hong Kong. “I couldn’t shake the data,” Brett recalls. “Hundreds of children are in need of foster care, and that number has now risen to around 1,000.”
As parents to four adopted children, two of whom had previously been part of loving foster families, Brett and his wife understood the impact of foster care. “Their ability to love and bond with us was deeply rooted in the care they received from their foster families,” Brett explains.
In August 2021, their family welcomed a beautiful little girl into their home. “Every day with her was a blessing, filling our home with joy and laughter,” Brett recalls. “She touched our lives in ways we never imagined.”
“We realized that the case would be complicated and take longer than usual. Probably a year. And then throw in a little COVID, and the delay got even longer”
“We cherished every day (and night) with her, and she became a magnet of love to our other children, and a vast army of supportive friends. Mother’s Choice also equipped us with a buddy foster family who supported us every Saturday night. Since we both work at a church, felt we needed one night of good rest.”
“I very much underestimated this whole situation. I never dreamed she would affect our lives in such beautiful ways. I underestimated the amount of grief that would come when we handed her over to her forever family. But as Queen Elizabeth famously said, “Grief is the price we pay for love”.
“In total, we cared for her for 2 years and 9 months. 994 days to be exact. Longer than we planned for, but we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
I am grateful for so many in this story of redemption and hope. To Mother’s Choice for supporting the birth mother during her difficult time. To the birth mother for her courageous act of giving life. To my wife for standing by me, and yet she did the lion’s share of loving and caring. And most of all, to the couple who became her forever family. They answered the many prayers from all sides by welcoming her into their home to complete this redemptive story.
Inspired by Brett’s journey? You too can help. Foster parenting provides safe temporary homes for children in need. Find out more here.