A Relationship Blossoms

She asked me one time, “Would you take me to the hospital if I fall and hit my head?”

I told her many times, “Yes, I will be there all night with you.”

She wasn’t my child, rather a child I worked with. She had no family. She had no one to call her own. She was a foster child. I was new in her life and yet we instantly shared this bond and connection. I was her support worker. Foster children were stigmatized as bad kids. I told my girlfriend, “There is no such thing as a bad kid. Circumstances make them act differently. They just need a sense of belonging and love.”

The unthinkable happened. Kaydra had fallen off the shelving unit she would often climb when upset. My shift was done. I received a phone call at home. I was told Kaydra had slipped, fallen, and hit her head on the countertop. As promised, I rushed to the hospital.

The burning smile on her face could have lit a million candles. Instantly, she jumped out of hospital bed and ran to hug me. “You came.”

My reply, “Of course. I promised I would be there for you if anything happens. I love you with all my heart.” These words fostered a relationship. I spent the night reading books to Kaydra and playing connect four. The next morning, all ready to leave the hospital, Kaydra turned to me and said, “Thank you for caring.”

Kaydra, after being driven back to the foster home and stepping out of the vehicle, turned to me with tears rolling down her cheeks. “Why did you stay the night? You went home after your shift.”

With a gleaming smile, giving her a big hug and a kiss on her forehead, the next words changed both of our lives. “You had no family before, but you’re my family now.”