71 | Inside a Foster Mom’s Fight with | Khristina

Start with a neighbor’s knock and a teenage girl who says yes to helping, then fast‑forward to a woman who has turned that yes into a life shaped by care. We sit down with Khristina, a certified clinical medical assistant and devoted foster mom, to trace her path from bedside empathy to courtroom endurance, and why she chose “fostering to keep” even when the process became invasive, expensive, and emotionally heavy.

Khristina opens up about welcoming a newborn whose cries signaled unmet needs long before the medical chart did. She walks us through the years of seeking answers, the shift from a suspected Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis to Becker, and the daily work of protecting mobility and dignity: transfers, stretching, cardiology check‑ins, and a home adapted for independence. Along the way, she unpacks what most people never see, referee rulings that can be appealed, an appeal window that resets everything, and more than $35,000 in legal fees to secure stability for three boys who call her mom. We talk about behavior triggers after mandated visits, the weekly “reset” back to baseline, and how school counselors, behavioral specialists, and the church keep the family grounded.

If you’ve wondered what it truly takes to foster, this conversation is your field guide, covering documentation, boundaries, patience, and a community that shows up. Khristina’s hard-won advice is practical and human: pace your expectations, guard your “me time,” seek outside counsel early, and prepare to learn more about the law and disability care than you ever expected. The payoff is measured in ordinary moments that once felt impossible: a high school graduation for a son who wasn’t expected to live past five, a house full of laughter, and a parent who still chooses love on the hardest days.

If this story moved you, follow the show, share it with someone considering foster care, and leave a review to help others find these conversations. Your support helps more families hear the truth and the hope behind fostering.

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