Meet the Zmick-Furno Family!
Our adoption story began in 2007. While living in Michigan, we decided to become licensed as foster parents, with the hope of eventually adopting. As soon as we were licensed, 18-month-old Hannah was placed with us. Two weeks later, a three-week-old boy, now known as Evan, was also placed in our home. We adopted them about one year later.
We continued to take foster placements, and in October 2012, we received placement of a brother and sister—four-year-old boy Kaiden and 22-month-old Bella. We finalized their adoptions in December 2013.
In January 2014, we moved to Oregon. Just a few months later, Michigan DHS notified us that Kaiden and Bella had a new baby brother. The following October, Sharron returned to Michigan to pick up Jasper so he could join our family.
We continued to take foster care placements, still hoping to grow our family through adoption. While none of our placements ended in adoption, we were lucky to foster many children and provide stability, structure, and love, which is something that all children desperately need. While we have placed our foster care license on hold, we continue to inquire about children in foster care who are eligible for adoption.
Over the years we have enjoyed watched our children grow and thrive. Hannah, now 14, loves to read and listen to music. An intelligent girl, she looks forward to a career as a lawyer. Evan and Kaiden, both 12, share many interests: building with Legos, being outside, and riding bikes and scooters. Both boys are kind, loving, and compassionate. Nine-year-old Bella, our spitfire, loves music and playing outside with her friends. Sweet and loving Jasper, age 6, loves trucks, playing outside, music, and playing Legos with his big brothers.
Our whole family likes to stay active. We enjoy spending time together outside, hiking, kayaking, and enjoying the beautiful parks near our home.
We see the biggest challenges in foster care and adoption as the length of time children remain in care. In addition, the lack of consistency between states, and even between counties in Oregon, is something that really needs to be addressed. Kids need permanency. They should not be made to languish in care. They deserve to know where they will live; they deserve to be part of a family.
Foster care is extremely rewarding and challenging all at the same time. Looking back we have no regrets and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
