[bjhv]

Hello!
Dh & I are waiting for our liscens to come through.We have completed everything just waiting.Now we are wondering if we should choose medically needy or if we should stay with "regular" foster care.
We have a ton of experince with medical problems(we had 2 bio children with a terminal disease,our son passed away 8/15/03)
My heart is torn,on one hand I want to have a "normal" child but then I would not have missed the years with my son.I know all the children need love and people to care for them.We do hope to adopt when the right child comes along.I just winder where we could do the most good and get a placement quickly.
Can any one give me the good and bad of both?

Deb
bio mom of 4 -16 yo boy,Angel son would be15,dd 13,dd12
waiting for placment

[Lisa3NY]

bjhv,
I don't know which way you should go, but I do think you will make a wonderful foster parent! What a big heart to go through what you have gone thru and decide to help children.


Prayers to you,
Lisa

[L-A-J-C-R-C]

Hi Deborah,

Well, I can only speak for myself. We started out as a regular foster home. To date we have cared for 9 children, 3 of whom we're in the process of adopting. Our children were 4 weeks old and 13 months old when placed with us. The other little guy was 11 months and he's our medically fragile ds. They are now 2, 2-1/2, 3.

We were asked to become medically-fragile trained because there is such a huge need here (I am only one of 2 in our area and the other has a child with HEP C and can't take in any more and probably wouldn't anyway). We thought about it and decided to go ahead.

Charlie (our medically fragile fs) was placed with us last Feb. 2. It was supposed to be a short-term placement of less than a month, we will be adopting him some time this year. Charlie is severely medically-fragile. He has brain damage (he's missing more than 1/2 his brain), a horrible seizure disorder called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, and a host of other medical problems. He has been doing really well since January and we're not sure what happened but he's like a different kid.

Last June Charlie has a status seizure and it was at that time his neurologist very bluntly said to me, "you know Charlie is going to die?" I gasped and answered no. She was angry that no one had told me that when he was placed with me (she was not his doctor at that time). The State had no idea how severe Charlie's problems were. I've had to educate them on his needs, conditions, etc.

This is getting way too long but I will say that I, more than likely, will not accept another medically fragile child. I am still coming to terms with the fact that he is going to die at a young age (more than likely, however, his improvement has been pretty darn dramatic so I'm gaining more hope each day). If I did accept another medically fragile child I would be very careful of the medical issues I would accept.

There is a huge need for all types of foster homes. You are right, you'd be a great medically-fragile home because you have experience. However, they need basic care homes too. Which ever way you decide to go please know that you will be making a huge difference in these kids lives, even if they're only with you a day.

Best of luck in your decision.

Michelle

[Dianna]

Hi, If you can do both medically and regular, then be open to both and see what happens. Once you are presented with possible placements, then you can decide specifically what you can handle. Good luck and welcome!

[bjhv]

Thank you all for your input.
We were advised to go ahead with regular foster since we are just waiting on the liscens to come in,then we can change if we decide to do so.
Diane,I am sorry about your soon.I understand how hard it is when you hear those words!

I will keep everyone informed