Library: News Release
Oklahoma City---Some people have the opportunity to drastically change children’s lives in a positive way. That is exactly what an Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) worker did for two developmentally and physically disabled children in foster care.
Susan Oliver and her husband never intended on being foster parents or adopting until they met two precious little boys. Oliver, who is a registered nurse, frequently encountered children in foster care through her job with DHS.
Oliver met Aiden and Zane and instantly felt a desire to take care of them. Aiden was two-years-old and had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, brain bleeding, was legally blind, and required 24-hour care. Zane was a one-year-old premature baby who was diagnosed as being developmentally delayed. As a registered nurse, Oliver knew she could provide the special care that the boys needed.
When an appropriate foster care home couldn’t be found for the boys, Oliver stepped in.
“It hurt my heart that no one wanted to take them,” said Oliver. “Something inside of me told me I could do it and not to be scared.”
Oliver and her husband had five children of their own, three of whom were still living at home. They took Aiden and Zane into their home and loved them as their own children.
“These boys needed a family,” said Oliver, “They are a huge blessing to our family and are absolutely adored by our other children.
Oliver and her husband have also maintained a relationship with Aiden and Zane’s biological parents. They allow the biological parents to see their children regularly and tell Aiden and Zane that they are lucky to have two sets of parents who love them. They believe maintaining a relationship with the biological family is an important aspect of the boys’ lives.
Oliver says the future looks very positive for Aiden and Zane. Both of the children are making extraordinary medical progress with improving conditions. The adoption of Aiden and Zane (Oliver) finalized August 1, 2014.
“You may think that being a foster parent means you are doing an awesome thing for a family, but really the children are the blessing to you,” said Oliver, “We are truly the lucky ones to have them in our lives.”
On any given day, there are at least 300 children in Oklahoma who are available and ready to be adopted.
For more information about how to become a foster parent, call 800-376-9729 or visit the Bridge Family Resource Center website at http://www.okbridgefamilies.com/.
For more information on how you can adopt, please visit http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/adopt/
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Aiden and Zane Oliver
