By GENA JOHNSON
Special to The Oakland Press

The holiday season is a time for giving, but for one area foster mother, giving is a year-round pleasure— so some local businesses gave back to her.

Karen, 47, is a foster-care mom with seven children — three biological and four fosters, two of whom she and her husband, Gerald, adopted. They have plans to adopt the other two. Her last name is being withheld to protect the children’s privacy.

“I always wanted to have a big family,” Karen said. “I feel more complete than I ever have.”

Two of Karen’s biological children are grown, and one is still in high school. The foster children range in age from 6 to 18. This makes a family of six girls and one boy.

“I am often asked, ‘How can you love a child you didn’t birth?’ ” Karen said. “My response is, ‘It is so easy.’ ”

Karen,who lives in Wayne County and has been a foster mom for five years,said she remembered when the older girls first came to her. 

“They were 12 and 13 (years old) at that time and could not add two plus two,” Karen said. “They had never been to school.”

Today, the oldest girl is studying nursing at a Michigan university.

“Now, we are helping to make her dreams come true,” Karen said.

Karen became aware of the four foster children, who are siblings, through Childhelp. 

Childhelp is a Southfield-based foster-care agency that exists to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of abused, neglected and at risk children, said Dawn Dayton, community liaison of the agency.

In light of Karen’s giving to foster children, the agency recommended Karen to receive a day of beauty and spa treatments courtesy of Nulmage Medspa and FIGO Hair Salon, both of Birmingham.

“Karen is one of the most caring people I’ve met,” said Dr. Gregory P. Derderian  of Nulmage Medspa. “It is my pleasure to give a little beauty, relaxation and joy to someone who gives so much to others.”

Derderian  has offered this support throughout the community with the Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Kronk, Public Television and Lighthouse of Oakland County. He plans to have an ongoing relationship with Childhelp.

Earlier his month, Karen received a slew of treatments including a facial, massage and lip enhancement at Nulmage. She received a hair cut, color and makeup at FIGO.

“I felt like Cinderella. I really do believe that dreams come true,” Karen said.

Before her spa day, Karen had brown hair with blond highlights,

“I looked like a drowned rat,” she said. “Now I feel like a hot mama.”

With hair she describes as “Ann-Margaret red,” the makeover was compliments of hair stylist Edith Zavala and make-up by Justin Ruppel.

“I felt so beautiful,” Karen said.

Karen, who has suffered back, hip and leg injuries, said she would like to foster more children, providing she maintains her health. She would like to be the kind of foster mother who is called in emergencies when children are taken out of the home or their parents are arrested.

“I want to do this so none will have to go to the shelter,” Karen said.

Childhelp is a national foster care agency that was established in 1959. It has been in Michigan 10 years.

According to Dayton, unlike state agencies, Childhelp offers its children  additional support by paying for summer camp, prom tickets and dresses, orthodontia and tutors. 

“Childhelp is a wonderful organization,” Karen said. “You can really make a difference in these children’s lives by becoming a foster parent, or volunteering or donating money.”

Dayton said U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, have just earmarked a federal appropriation for $100,000 for the agency’s Diagnostic and Assessment Center which evaluates each child forensically, medically and psychologically.

“Spending quality time assessing that child’s specific needs, the more we understand those needs and the better we can place them the first time,” Dayton said.

This eliminates the need for subsequent placements, which can be very difficult on the child.

Childhelp has 1,800 children in foster care in Oakland County and 48 children who need to be placed in homes.

FYI

For more information or to donate, contact Childhelp Michigan, (248)353-0921, 21455 Mel rose Ave., Bldg. R Ste. 1, Southfield, MI 48075.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/12/27/news/local_news/doc4b33ac72c3a71237360115.txt