Kian & Kalan have had a sad start to life and they now need a family and to feel
You can help more kids get a 2nd chance
Pictures: PHIL HARRIS
them their medication and getting to know them.”
But since they came out of hospital in June last year, Kalan has suffered health issues. Just before Christmas, he was in a hospital for a month after a seizure and developing hydrocephalus.
He is now back home and getting better every day.
When I visit Paulette’s home in London, Kian bumbles around the room with his musical bee toy, dancing along to its jingles. Every few moments, he stops to inspect a new item in the room, fascinated by everything from pens to smartphones to my hair.
Paulette laughs: “Kian is into everything and very intelligent – he loves dancing, reading and singing nursery rhymes. He’s a very quick learner.”
That’s clear to see when I teach him how to high-five and he copies straight away. In fact, I can barely keep him away, as I find him giggling and gurgling behind me every time I move. “The nurses loved him!” says Paulette, a foster carer for five years. “He’s going to be a heartbreaker when he grows up.”
While Kian is a confident walker and loves meeting new people, shy Kalan is happy to sit on the sofa on his own, reading.
Paulette, a former shop worker, says: “They are a joy to look after. They often babble words to each other as if they have their own secret language.”
Kian was the first to speak and, as I watch him play with toys all in his favourite colour, yellow, it’s not a surprise that his first words were “banana” and “star”. The fruit is also one of his favourite foods, and the pair have been brought up on a veggie diet.
And while at first they were not able to play outside with other kids due to their weakened immune systems, they now love nothing more than visiting the local park.
Paulette says: “Kalan enjoys going to the park, going on the playhouse and climbing up the steps and he can now make a few steps without support.
“Kian is meeting his targets and Kalan is doing amazingly well. His gross motor skills are still underdeveloped and he is slightly smaller than his brother because he lost a lot of muscle PAULETTE ON THE IMPACT THE BOYS MADE ON HER in hospital, but I know he will catch up.” Research from national adoption information service First4Adoption, shows there are almost three times as many children awaiting adoptive families as there are adopters.
Right now, there are more than 2,500 children like Kian and Kalan in the UK waiting for families.
Children who are black and minority ethnicity, part of a sibling group or with additional needs, like the twins, are often harder to place. Of all awaiting adoption, 55% are in sibling groups, 67% are under five and 57% are boys.
First4Adoption hopes heartwrenching cases like Kalan and Kian will inspire people to become adoptive parents in National Adoption Week.
Head of service Gemma GordonJohnson says: “All of these children need a loving, stable home. Being an adoptive parent can be challenging but it also brings great rewards.” IF ever a week had the potential to change lives, it is this one. National Adoption Week is about giving children who have had a tough start in life a second chance.
And I can’t think of anything more worthwhile than that.
Being a dad to three wonderful children has brought me so much joy. But there are many children who don’t have a family to give them the love and care they need.
Right now, there are more than 2,500 waiting to be adopted by families, hoping to find the loving and stable home so many of us sometimes take for granted.
What we are looking for is a diverse mix of prospective adopters from a range of backgrounds, who reflect our rich and vibrant society.
It’s great that we have seen the number of children adopted by same-sex couples almost double since 2013.
But there is more to be done and I encourage as many people as possible to consider adopting. What kind of person makes a good adoptive parent? You need what any parent needs – to give the child unlimited love, time, patience, understanding and support.
You also need to stand up for them, see their positive qualities, even when times may be hard, and support them to live happy, fulfilled childhoods.
You don’t need to be rich, all you need is total commitment. There is extra help available for families who need it.
Many of these kids will have had a traumatic start in life.
The Adoption Support Fund will help pay for therapy for adoptive families and children cared for under a special guardianship. It has helped thousands since May 2015, backed by £89million.
If you have thought about adoption, visit first4adoption. co.uk. This will give you a good understanding of what is involved and you could be one step closer to helping to change a child’s life.
When I walked into the hospital I knew I had to look after them
You don’t need to be rich, all you need is total commitment. There is extra help available