A Family That Chose to Stay

For Lilliana, foster care wasn’t just about placement—it was about finding a home that wouldn’t give up on her. She and her older sister were placed with a foster family after their parents' rights were terminated. While the county searched for a kinship placement, the sisters stayed together, clinging to each other in an uncertain world. When a relative was identified, they moved, hoping for a fresh start. But while the new home was a good fit for her sister, it wasn’t for Lilliana. The separation from her sister was another painful loss and another reminder that stability was always just out of reach.

The county reached out to her former foster parents, asking if they had space for Lilliana to return, they didn’t hesitate. They opened their doors and wrapped her in the kind of love that didn’t come with conditions.

But coming back didn’t erase the wounds. Lilliana was drowning in emotions too big to contain—anger, sadness, fear, and an aching sense of not belonging anywhere. Her mental health spiraled. She lashed out, withdrew, and questioned whether she deserved the kind of love her foster parents were offering.

Her foster moms refused to let her struggle alone. They held her through the worst moments, reminding her that she was not too much, not too broken, not beyond hope. But even with their loving support, Lilliana needed more. When outpatient therapy wasn’t enough, a higher level of care became necessary. She was sent to a residential treatment center out of state—a terrifying step that felt, to her, like another rejection.

But unlike before, this move wasn’t an ending. Her foster parents called every day, sat beside her in family therapy, and traveled across state lines just to remind her she was still theirs. They didn’t let distance weaken their bond. They didn’t let her believe she was alone. And slowly, through their persistence and her own strength, she began to heal.

When Lilliana finally returned home, something inside her had shifted. The panic attacks that once consumed her started to lose their grip. The seasons that used to bring back unbearable memories no longer sent her into a downward spiral. She found herself laughing more, trusting more, letting herself believe—maybe for the first time—that she had a future worth looking forward to.

Now, as she grows up, the fear of the unknown still lingers, but it no longer paralyzes her. She knows there are choices ahead—what school or work will look like, where she’ll live—but she also knows she won’t be facing them alone. No matter where she goes, she has a home, not just a house. She has a family, not just caregivers. She has a future, because someone believed she deserved one.

Lilliana’s story is a testament to the life-changing role foster parents play. Children enter care at all ages, carrying different experiences, but they all share the same need—for love, stability, and family. If you’ve ever thought about opening your home and heart to a child in need, we invite you to fill out the form below to learn more about becoming a foster parent.