Tracy shares her journey, the support she’s received, and encourages others to keep going, showing how fostering can make a real, life-changing difference.
Tracy and her husband Shawn have been fostering for 17 years and transferred to Orange Grove five years ago. They’ve made a huge difference in the lives of many children, but one of their biggest achievements was helping their foster son, Callum, receive an ADHD diagnosis after seven years of fighting.
From how her journey began and advocating for her foster son’s needs, to the support she’s received from Orange Grove and her advice for prospective foster parents, Tracy shared her story to encourage others in similar situations to ‘keep going’ because it can really make a ‘life-changing difference’.
How the journey began
Fostering has been part of Tracy’s life since she was just 8 years old, when her parents began welcoming foster children into their home.
Tracy said, “I grew up with it. I was used to sharing my space and being around different behaviours, challenges, and backgrounds. It really opened my eyes.”
“Fostering runs in the family too – my aunties, uncles and cousins have all fostered, and one of my cousins still does. Even my eldest son and his partner foster now.”
“Growing up around foster children, I saw both the good and the bad. Some of the things that happened, you honestly couldn’t make up. I always say I could write a book about it!”
Advocating for her foster son’s needs
It’s been 17 years since Tracy and her husband began fostering, and they are open about the challenges they’ve faced. They’ve helped many children, but one of their biggest accomplishments was fighting for their foster son, Callum, to get an ADHD diagnosis so he could receive the support he needed.
Tracy said, “Callum came to us at age seven and had lots of challenges. It was obvious to me that he had ADHD, but at school, he was put in isolation, a small room away from everyone, when all he needed was the right support and advocacy.”
“Someone said about him once, ‘he’s nout but trouble’, and I said he’s not trouble, he’s troubled, and there’s a huge difference.”
“Eventually, after seven years, I managed to get Callum the support and medication he needed. It was life-changing then and still positively impacts him today. It helped him at home, but mostly at school, where he was able to focus and stay in class. Even the teachers described him as a pleasure to teach after that.”
‘Seeing children thrive – that’s what keeps me going’
Tracy and her husband have had their fostering ups and downs, but in their experience, ‘seeing children thrive’ makes it all worthwhile and is the most rewarding thing about being a foster parent.
Tracy said, ‘It’s definitely been a rollercoaster. You name it, I’ve probably had it thrown at me, but on the flip side, seeing children thrive is just so rewarding. That’s what keeps me going.”
“Most foster children just want a settled, loving home. They want to be listened to, to do normal things like baking, and just feel safe.”
Callum is a credit to Tracy and her husband’s dedication to children in care. Before his diagnosis, he was at risk of missing out on normal school milestones like attending his prom, but with the support and medication that the couple fought for, he was able to go with his peers, something Tracy is incredibly proud of. He’s now thriving in adulthood, too.
Tracy said, “Now he’s 23, living independently with his girlfriend and their dog. He still calls me mum, still visits, and still comes for Christmas dinner. That’s what fostering is about. Yes, there are challenges, but when you see outcomes like that, it makes everything worthwhile.”
Orange Grove’s support
Tracy and Shawn transferred to Orange Grove five years ago and believe ‘it’s the best agency’ they’ve ever been with.
Tracy said, “The support has been amazing, and our supervising social worker is fantastic. They’ve supported us through some really hard times, and we’ve always felt backed up.”
“The training they offer is brilliant, and there’s always something available to help you develop. I love going to the carer forums, it’s a really good community, and you can share experiences with other foster carers who understand exactly what it’s like.”
“I’ve even joined the Skills to Foster sessions a few times to help new carers. Answering questions and sharing my experiences. I always say, I’ve been there and done it, so if I can help someone else, I will.”
“If anyone ever tells me they’re thinking about fostering, I say just come to Orange Grove.”
Tracy’s advice for prospective foster parents
Tracy’s 17 years of fostering have taught her a lot. She shared her advice for anyone thinking about starting their journey or advocating for their foster child’s needs.
She said, “Just keep fighting, if you’ve got to keep going, then you’ve got to keep going. Whether it’s a diagnosis, medication, or therapy, it will make an incredible difference to the child in your care when you can sort this for them.”
“When it comes to children in care, they deserve to have a happy, normal upbringing just like everyone else. We did our best to prepare Callum for his adult life, and we can proudly say we did just that. He is such a lovely young man.”
“When they come back, give you a hug, and tell you they love you, that’s what keeps you going. There really are so many happy endings.”
Inspired by Tracy’s story?
Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people by becoming a foster parent?
Call us today on 0800 369 8513 or submit an enquiry form to learn more about fostering with Orange Grove, including our reliable support for your whole family, trauma-informed training, and generous fostering allowances.
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