This message was originally posted by
Susan Tackett.
I have only become a foster parent recently myself and found this board and the other board where so much controversy occurred over this issue and as a former foster child who was in the system in the State of Virginia I finally responded because I had had enough and unfortunately, my response was accidentally deleted and I accept the webmaster's explanation on the deletion:
I was put into state custody when I was 1 day old in the State of Virginia (I am now 37 years old) and was taken out of foster care when I was 1 year old - during that time my foster mother abused me - I was covered with sores, had burn marks on me - had to have intense physical therapy for months due to the fact that the foster mother (who was married by the way and had a bc herself) let my hip joints actually bind together and they could not bend my legs - I could not be put in a tub of water until I was over 2 years old because the foster mother had burned and scalded me - the records from the State of Virginia state "this child looks like she is from a third world country". I suffered for years from chronic bladder and urinary trach infections which the doctors attributed to the fact that I would hold my urine when I was child due to the fact that she would leave me for days in the same diapers - and from the saturation of the urine and feces I was one huge sore. The state did not disclose the abuse to my adoptive parents and told them that I "had a failure to thrive issue" - when I received from records from the State of Virginia and read at the age of 33 the abuse that occurred I threw up for hours and both my adoptive and birth mother cried for days. I found both my birthmom and bf 4 years ago. Ask me if I grew up with attachment issues?
I do not believe in homosexuality, it is not a choice of lifestyle which I have chosen - I have a beautiful 14 year old son and a wonderful husband - however, I was in the home of a married couple who abused me - I was one thing - a paycheck - my point is this - abuse happens anywhere - and my opinion as a former ABUSED foster child - what would my life had been like if someone, homosexual or not, have taken me into their home and loved me like I was suppose to be loved - would I have suffered all of the problems which I have endured in my life - I believe that in the end - that it is God's decision and judgment to make - I am just a speck in this huge universe and if I can make one child feel special and loved and make them realize what a gift they are to this world and make them realize that they are loved and worthy of love as my adoptive mother (and birth mother) continue to do - even though I brought heartache when I was growing up - than I have done well.
Have a blessed day.
Volfan