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They thought he was meant to say goodbye; things changed, and he was there for a lifetime!

They thought he was meant to say goodbye; things changed, and he was there for a lifetime!

Spending 8 years as a foster family is a big deal. There are many responsibilities, but Julia and her family have a heart big enough to welcome children and bring hope into their lives. It’s not an easy job, but Julia and her family have been doing it! They are a certified foster family, so when they received a call that a baby needed them, they welcomed him, too.

Little Braelyn was now also a part of the beautiful family, but the impact he was soon going to have on their lives was something no one expected. 

Courtesy of Julie Long

When she agreed to become a foster parent for the beautiful baby, she thought it was just another precious baby coming in for a few days, and eventually, he would leave soon, but what life had in store for her was something else. This time, it was going to be more magical. 

Braelyn was there for a few days, but soon, his father got full custody, so Julia and her family thought this was the only time they had together, and it was time for a heartbreaking goodbye again. However, despite having full custody, Braelyn’s dad requested that Julia take care of him. He had long working hours, so he feared the baby might not get enough attention.

Courtesy of Julie Long

So, the journey hadn’t ended yet. Their connection was no less than a mother-son duo, as Julia tells how he started calling her Mama Julie because she was the only mom he had ever seen or been with. 

Years pass, and the bond keeps growing. Just like mothers are there to cheer up their children and give them a hand to overcome life’s difficulties, Julia has always done the same. She witnessed every single milestone of Brayeln, from wiping his tears to keeping him safe from the cruel world; she does it every day by choice without complaining. 

Courtesy of Julie Long

While talking about saying goodbye to babies after being their foster parent, be it for a few days, Julia got teary and said, ‘It never gets easy.’ Of course, having precious humans around that you remember forever, but they might not, breaks her heart a little more every time. 

However, her bond with Braelyn is unbreakable, and she does not see it fading away in this life now. The bond is a source of comfort, and Braelyn has become the person who gets unconditional love from her.

She also shared how fostering so many children in eight years taught her that while love without limit does exist, the pain of letting go can never be avoided and remains forever.