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Ohio — Anyone who knows Sean knows that he loves cars. Naturally, when his class went to visit the school library, he wanted to find a book about his favorite subject — a challenge that Laura, the school’s librarian, gladly accepted.  

“His class came in to use the library, and I was helping them find books in their interest,” Laura shared. “And he’s like, ‘You’re not going to have any books for me because I love cars.’ And I said, ‘Oh, really?’” 

That conversation marked the beginning of a lifelong connection.  

Sean continued visiting the library, and Laura began getting to know Sean. She learned he had been in foster care for five years, with most of that time spent in group homes. Sean remembers the fighting and chaos in his group home. It was a place he couldn’t wait to leave. But time was ticking for Sean — as is the case for many teenagers at risk of aging out of foster care without a permanent family.  

It didn’t take long for Laura and her husband, Dave, to realize they wanted to bring Sean home. With help from the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program and our community of supporters, Laura and Dave adopted Sean at age 15.   

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter, Kirstie, with Caring for Kids, Inc. was an advocate for Sean, ensuring the family would be prepared to care for him. “Through Kirstie, we were the recipient of not only her advice and guidance but also pointing us in the right direction of resources that gave us more confidence in our ability to do this,” Dave said.  

Kirstie first recognized Laura and Dave could be Sean’s forever family when she noticed the difference in Sean when he visited them compared to his daily life at the group home. She said that with Laura and Dave, “he has the structure … he has the love and support … the consistency. They really took their time to get to know him and how to manage behaviors and support him in the best ways possible.” 

Sean is grateful for Kirstie because she was someone he could rely on. “When she said, ‘I’m taking you out of that group home,’ she brought me here (Laura and Dave’s home),” Sean said. 

Life looks much different for Sean since joining the family. He took his first flight with his parents to visit his brother in Colorado, got his first bike and enjoys playing with the family cat, Phoebe. Sean is actively involved with the track and cross country teams at school, adding that he hopes to one day be as fast as a Corvette Stingray (one of his favorite cars). 

“Sean is everybody’s friend. He’s got that smile that just lights up a room. I think that’s what makes him so approachable for a wide variety of people,” Dave shared. “He’s just joyful and loving. That simplistic love we wish we all had … he has that,” Laura added.  

Sean is thriving with his family’s support, driving toward working at a car dealership or another role in the auto industry. “I can’t see his future without cars in it,” Dave said with a laugh.  

Most importantly, Sean finally feels at home in a room of his very own. “I feel like Laura and Dave really care about me … I feel safe here.”  

If you have room in your home or in your heart, you can help a child, like Sean, waiting for a family right now. Explore ways to get involved and join our caring community that makes stories like these possible.