May has been filled with so many important awareness campaigns, mental health, family wellness, better sleep, nurses and teacher's week. We love to be able to spotlight members of our organization, every chance we get. Along with all the amazing campaigns this month, it is also National Foster Care Month. One of the MGA's mission statements is to supporting patients, families, friends, and communities impacted by myasthenia gravis. Nancy Birch has a similar mission, to support children, their families, and her community through fostering. Read more about her experience as a foster parent in this week's blog!
When were you diagnosed the Myasthenia Gravis, was it before or after you began
fostering?
After fostering, we retired in 2020 and I was diagnosed in 2022
How has living with myasthenia gravis influenced your decision to become a foster parent, if at all?
No, we do have an adopted son.
Can you share with us your journey into foster parenting and how you came to be involved in the foster care system?
I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be involved with children in some way. We started fostering a few years after we were married and continued until 2022, with a break in 1999 when I gave birth to our 3rd child.
What unique challenges have you faced as a foster parent with myasthenia gravis, and how have you overcome them?
Unfortunately, MG has slowed down my ability to volunteer and contribute to the foster care community. I sat in the State of Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board for many years, but was unable to continue due to MG.
How do you manage your health condition while also providing care for foster children? Since we are a retired foster family I don’t have children in the home. The last 7 years of our foster care journey we foster elevated needs teenagers. So, we wouldn’t have had small children.
How do you address concerns or questions from foster agencies or prospective foster children's families regarding your ability to care for children given your health condition? You have to disclose any health and mental conditions and your physician fills out a form attesting that you are healthy enough to be a foster parent.
What advice would you give to other individuals with myasthenia gravis who are considering becoming foster parents?
I would recommend that you have your MG under control or in remission before fostering. Children in care deserve the very best version of the foster parent. This is a very difficult time in their life and the child needs must be met.
In what ways has foster parenting enriched your life despite the challenges you face with your health condition?
Being a parent to my children and foster children has been single handedly the most rewarding thing in my life. I have loved and been loved by so many.
What message would you like to share with the public during National Foster Care Month regarding the importance of foster parents from diverse backgrounds, including those with chronic health conditions like myasthenia gravis?
Fostering is not for everyone, it’s not for the faint of heart and it not for the weak. To open your heart and home to children is not to be taken lightly, they deserve a foster family that is all in and will stick with them through their journey outside of their family home. If you feel called to foster I encourage you to look into it and maybe start with providing respite for established foster families and see how having additional children in your home works for your family. If it is a fit I say go for it, you will not be sorry.
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