Foster children are not often like other youngsters their age. They experience losses and obstacles that no child their age should face, and it has an impact on them whether it is visible or not.
First and foremost, they lose their parents and loved ones. Separation from biological parents causes youngsters to lose trust in others and feel uneasy, whether it is due to the death of their parents or because they are perceived as inadequate or unsuited to care for their children. Simultaneously, because foster families do not stay forever, they lose their sense of continuity, control, and isolation. Danielle, who was just three years old when she was taken in by the Konings, felt the same way.
Danielle’s adoptive parents were Sarah and Jim Koning of Grand Rapids, Michigan, for two years before her formal adoption. As Sarah noted, it was critical to them that Daniella remember the court hearing so that she would feel safe and know that this time she had a forever family. So, when the caseworkers studied Daniella’s case just a few days before the hearing, they decided to surprise her and offer her memories that she would cherish in her memory and heart for the rest of her life.
