Meet the Humans

It all began with a cup of coffee and a phone call on a Friday morning.

Ken and Sarah were contemplating their options during the early days of the pandemic. Ken had lost his job just 2 weeks into the Covid-19 crisis, and Sarah was considering the projects she could focus on since her massage practice was to be closed for two months. When Sarah answered the phone, the caller said, "Can you help my grandson, just for a month or so, we don’t know who else to call?”

Ken was preparing to help a friend on a job that would take him away for three weeks, so he asked “Well, can you do it?” Tears filled Sarah's eyes, they struggled at the corner of YES and What Are We THINKING but returned the call and said they would help. How could they say no in their current situation knowing that this little human needed someone to catch him? 

The worker explained that the placement would be brief. 

As they drove home on a snowy evening with this 24-day-old little human that was so tiny and fragile, they looked at each other and repeated "What Are We Thinking", but felt inside it was very much the right thing to do. They had no idea what lay ahead. That next morning Ken left for the job and their daughter, Kahlei, and Sarah were left with this precious little boy. 

The precious little boy cried out in pain as they anxiously tried to create an attachment and a safe environment while the baby was experiencing withdrawal and adjusting to new smells, sounds, and voices. Countless nights, nurse visits, doctor's appointments, and being prepared to head to the hospital only partially conveys the new stress that they learned to accept. The emotions connected with this task could never be adequately described with any words in the English language.

They were told to be prepared for his reunification “next month,” but “next month” was as fleeting as the horizon. They moved toward it, expecting to reach it. Yet, it moved. Again and again, it moved.
 

Six months later, they found ourselves answering another heart-wrenching phone call, inviting them to an emotional informational meeting about a permanent placement need. It was Ken’s cousin’s grandson from out of state, only seven years old. He had already endured the challenges of two foster homes and was in desperate need of a stable environment, as his bio-mom wasn’t making progress towards reunification. Feeling deeply for this young boy, they knew we were his last hope. After seven months, they made the life-changing journey back home with a nine-year-old, welcoming him into their ever-growing family with open arms.

Foster care has been the most challenging experience they have ever encountered. The emotional highs and lows are beyond comprehension, and they've lost count of how many times their stomachs have dropped. So what’s the solution? Just. Hold. On.

Home studies, reunification plans, court cases, incarceration, extended family, failure, success, failure again….on and on went the ups and downs with both boys. Throughout it all, the primary concern has been to shield two precious children from the storm swirling around them. They have chosen to withhold judgment and instead focus on building connections and gathering resources to ensure the well-being of the children we care deeply about.

The journey was tough. It was difficult, it was heart-wrenching, and it was draining. As the cases progressed, they became fully convinced that they were simply waiting for the state to give them the children permanently so they could finally push to give them all the resources they could find to help the boys not just deal with yesterday or today but become adaptable, compassionate, empathetic strong young men.

So, they moved from Denver to Kimball. Why leave so many resources? They needed a place for the boys to both have a fresh start. They needed to grow their family and they valued the small-town ideals and knew that sacrifices would bring blessings. 

During their first year, they drove 35,000 miles just for one of their boys to attend speech, physical, occupational, and equine therapy sessions, as well as visits to specialists and doctor appointments. Spent countless hours on research, phone calls, and asking questions, and finally, they gained a better understanding of our situation. Through their experience raising their older children, they were fully convinced that the first five years of a child's life are crucial for early development. They also realized that their older boy had missed out on a lot of support during this important time.

Despite the strong recommendation to find ABA therapy and continue physical, occupational, and equine therapy for both boys diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Sarah refused to drive another 35,000 miles and spend more hours on the road.

Ken and Sarah realized the importance of utilizing their resources to create a space where their sons could receive the therapy and sensory support they needed at home. This inspired them to open this space to help others facing similar challenges. 

In their hearts, they yearn to create a peaceful and natural refuge where resilient individuals who have encountered challenges can find strength, overcome their fears, and plan for the future with the support of animal-assisted services and a place to enjoy being outside in a safe space.