Katie Holstein and Akyra’s story serves as a beacon of hope that highlights the transformative power of foster care and adoption.
If we were to make a list of the 10 hardest jobs in the world, parenting would definitely be one of them. Everyone can appreciate how challenging it is to raise children, manage a household and work to financially support a family.
No matter how difficult the task is, some people choose to undertake it, even if they don’t have to. We call them “fosters”.
Katie Holstein exemplifies this. In 2017, she decided that she wanted to have a child. In January of that year, she applied to become a certified foster parent.
I was tired of waiting for Mr. Right to intervene because I wanted to have a family. In an article for Love What Matters, she wrote, “I imagined I would grow for a few years, help reunite some families, and maybe be able to say yes forever.”
After eight months, her request was finally granted.
Her first task came quickly. On the same day she was approved, she was notified of two siblings, ages one and two, who needed foster care.
Overnight, Katie gave birth to two babies for the first time. It was “terrifying”, but it was also “everything I could have hoped for and more”.
In the next three years, this tenacious woman raised 16 children. After hearing so many horror stories, Katie said she was hesitant to travel with minors, but after meeting Akira, a teenage girl, she felt differently.
“On March 9, 2019, I received a call from my preferred social worker. “I got this girl, I know you don’t hang out with teenagers,” she said. She’s great, they just need a break from their current foster family The author suggests taking it easy on the weekend.” Katie thought of something.
At the time, she cared for a large number of children under the age of five, including Thomas, a baby who spent time in the NICU and whom she affectionately calls “Tiny”.
Although Katie wasn’t quite ready, she agreed to take on another full-time foster carer because she wanted to help.
In the end, she made the right decision.
The young children adored Akira and called her their “big friend”. Due to their similar interests in Twilight and staying overnight, she and Katie became friends. Over the next few months, as she moved around different foster homes, Akyra visited her every now and then for a weekly visit.
After knowing Akira for over a year, Katie decided it was time to seriously support her. She intended to live with Katie until she was 18 and left the foster care system when she was 16.
Katie said: “The plan was for her to live with me for about a year until she graduated and then go into independent living, which is a wonderful program run by our state.
When a young person is set to leave the cabinet, it allows them to stay until the age of 22. He receives housing, scholarships, mentoring, help with employment, education, and other things, as well as assistance. It allows children to transition to adulthood gradually and under supervision, rather than being left to fend for themselves at 18.
However, over time, the two became closer. Akyra then asked if she had ever thought about adopting a teenager. At that moment, Katie understood what she had to do.
Three days before turning seventeen, Akyra officially changed her name to Holstein. Plus, Katie adopted Thomas that same day at Akira’s request!
Zoom offered a live stream of the happy ceremony. Akyra’s caseworker, her family, and friends were there to witness this momentous event.
The trio held a photo shoot to honor their time in foster care, which was recorded on a chalkboard.
Katie thinks that because their story has been told, it can inspire others to adopt foster children. She assured me that there was no need to organize everything.
“If I waited for the ‘perfect moment’ I would miss my children.” They don’t care if you’re on a budget, live in a small house, single, or still working. parenting – there are kids around you who need a safe haven right now. They need willing families, not perfect ones, she said.
What a sweet message of compassion and humility! This story shows that being in a true family doesn’t always require blood; it can also mean a strong emotional bond.
This heartwarming story reminds us that family ties are not defined by blood relations alone. True family connections can be made through love, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Their journey shows the incredible resilience of the human spirit and reinforces the idea that every child deserves a safe and loving home.
As you reflect on this inspiring story, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family. By spreading stories of the love, resilience, and power of foster care, we can inspire others to consider opening their hearts and homes to children in need. Together, we can create a ripple effect of compassion and make a lasting difference in the lives of those who deserve it most.
Do you find this story inspiring? Don’t forget to share the news with your loved ones!