While Emily was there for her daughter’s school conference, the speech of a foster care worker changed her entire perspective and wishes. Emily had a beautiful family, and because the kids were young, it would get too overwhelming on some days as the couple constantly juggled between managing their house and work. However, stopping by to listen to what the foster care wanted to say was one of the best decisions Emily had made.
The thought of being in foster care was now stuck in her mind, so she decided to share it with
Her husband, Brandon, was not expecting a positive response, but he agreed!
The couple did not delay and soon began taking classes to become licensed foster parents. The first time they received a call was not after a very long time, and they were excited to welcome Zackary, a nine-year-old boy. His biological mother described the baby negatively, which made the couple curious about his behaviour.
The mother told Emily and Brandon how Zackery was destructive and was not easy to handle, but it turned out to be the opposite! The couple was ready for it all, but the boy was extremely humble and polite when Zack arrived home. He did not even ask for much during his stay at the couple’s place. He loved eating Taco-flavoured hamburgers, which were also Brandon’s favourite. Emily, who wasn’t a big fan, started making it for dinner to make both her boys smile.
Zack enjoyed spending time with the Boettchers and formed a beautiful bond with the family. On weekends, the couple took Zack with their other children for vacations, and Zach seemed to enjoy it all. However, Zach broke his arm while hanging out with the family while wearing his wheelie shoes. The couple took him to the hospital, and what they observed there was surprising. Zach’s mother did not care much about his needs and ignored him, leaving Zachery attention-deprived. The relationship between the mother and son was not how it should have been, and it was heartbreaking. The complaints coming from his mother about the behavior made sense, and the reason was visible now.
Emily wanted to fix the bond but failed to do so, even after countless therapy sessions and by mediating fights. Zack’s lack of comfort and safety at home was also apparent, as despite being a bright boy, he failed at school, so he was sent for special education. Looking at the boy’s condition, CPS requested Boettchers to adopt Zach, and thinking about how Rachel might need him, being his mom, Emily refused.
However, when Zach calls Emily a few months later, her decision changes, his voice shows how scared he is, and he tells Emily that Rachel has accused him of ruining her life. He questions why he could not be loved like all the other kids, to which Brandon tells him how the couple loves him so much, and then Zach is adopted.
Zach, who graduated from high school with a 3.93 GPA, was a beautiful addition to the family, and accepting him changed their lives forever. It truly takes a lot to make someone a part of your family!
