Carrie’s story is one of transformation and profound impact. Once a retail manager overseeing 60 stores, Carrie found herself unfulfilled despite her professional success. While juggling a demanding job and raising her two children, she had a revelation that this was not a purpose.
In a quest for meaning, Carrie left her corporate life and dabbled in house framing. This stint, though brief, was a part of her soul-searching journey. “I needed to fill in those soul-searching pieces,” she says. However, her true calling emerged when she began working at a school for special needs children. Many of these children were from the foster care system, and their unique needs deeply touched Carrie’s heart. This epiphany led her to become a foster caregiver, a role she has passionately embraced for the past 18 years.
- Carrie
Carrie quickly learned that fostering is more than a responsibility; it’s a lifestyle. “It’s about opening your heart and home to the vulnerable. If you don’t shed some tears, then you didn’t do it right,” she emphasizes. Carrie describes fostering as stepping into the unknown and seizing opportunities to make a significant change in a child’s life.
One of the most rewarding moments in her journey was picking up an infant from the hospital. The doctors warned that the child might never walk, eat, or drink. “Are you prepared to care for him?” they asked. Carrie’s affirmative response marked the start of an extraordinary transformation. Today, that child is an honor student, proving the power of love and belief. “No one told him he couldn’t walk or be successful,” Carrie proudly states.
Initially, Carrie had notable reservations. She had a list of conditions she wasn’t willing to handle, including high medical needs and severe mental health issues. “I had fear going through the checklist of what I was willing to take on,” she admits. Over time, however, she discovered her capacity to meet these challenges was greater than she imagined. “You don’t know the strength within you until you’re faced with it,” she says.
Carrie’s journey has fundamentally changed her perspective on life’s purpose. “The purpose of life isn’t a paycheck or a career. It’s about who you are and where you make your impact,” she asserts. Fostering has taught her humility, compassion, and the importance of connection.
A significant aspect of Carrie’s role is ensuring her foster children, all of whom are Indigenous, maintain their cultural roots. “It’s extremely important to me that my children know who they are and where they come from. There’s healing in knowing your identity and having strong connections,” she emphasizes. Her mission is to ensure her children carry their cultural heritage forward with a strong sense of self and place.
Carrie also acknowledges the critical goal of reunification in foster care. “The best interest of the child is always to go home if possible. It’s about ensuring that home is the right place for them,” she says.
- Carrie
Carrie’s commitment extends beyond providing shelter—it’s about changing lives and contributing to future generations. “If you’re looking to make a difference and have a purpose, give yourself wholeheartedly to support someone else. It’s incredibly rewarding,” she advises. Her 18-year journey exemplifies the transformative power of compassion and resilience.
“This world is about being supportive and compassionate because we all go through times when we need help,” Carrie concludes. Through fostering, she demonstrates that making a profound impact on the world starts with the willingness to open your heart and create a nurturing environment for those in need. Carrie’s story is an inspiring reminder of the difference one person can make, one child at a time.
Carrie is LoveStrong
