When I turned five something amazing happened – I met grandma Iva and grandpa Zhoro and I was their guest for a month. They explained to me that they are foster parents and would like to take care of me. I liked them a lot – they were kind and treated my so well and gave me so much attention. Recently I settled down in their home. Don’t think I was alone – they already had a foster girl and a big nice dog.  At the age of four and a half I learned how to use the potty /my foster parents were very proud of this achievement/, then I started using the toilet, eating by myself and doing many other new things. I had four surgeries of my legs because I have cerebral palsy, that was what grandma and grandpa explained to me. They were always with me because it was very scary in the hospitals. Grandma and grandpa told me I was a hero. Each day they took me to special gymnastics so that I could learn walking and drawing with pencils and crayons. We went walking almost every day. I played with the other kids in the playgrounds and had many new friends. Grandma and Grandpa had time for me.

Grandma worked with me every day and I started chattering, learned the alphabet, how to count, to draw, to sing children’s songs and recite rhymes, to tell fairy tales… It was not boring at all in my foster family – at the time I was there grandma and grandpa took care of two more babies; our vacations at the seaside always with their three grandchildren, the big celebrations at their home, the Social services complex and in the mall will remain the most unforgettable. It was great fun.

I know grandma and grandpa love me a lot; they told me and so did the people in the Social services complex we met each week (they helped grandma and grandpa a lot) I would have a mum and dad from far away. I didn’t understand this very well, yet when I saw Katherine and Timothy I felt they were really my mum and dad. It could seem strange to you but the first thing I thought when I saw them was that I look very much like my mum Katherine. I will never forget our first meeting – so many games and fun – it seemed I knew had known them for a lifetime. It was interesting when mum said some Bulgarian words she learned especially for me. They told me about their family and that they would love if I became a part of it. I can’t refrain from boasting that I have three elder brothers. Grandma told me I would be the princess of my brothers. It was difficult for me to wait when mum and dad went to the distant United States of America. Together with grandma we looked through the photo album and each week we talked to mum and dad via Skype. And do you think that I was just sitting around waiting for them? Oh, no. We started learning English words and I think I did very well. Then finally came the day when my mum and dad came from the USA to pick me up. My brothers were also there – they were competing in delighting in me and talking to me – yet, I didn’t understand them. This is not so important because all of us were happy. Of course, I was the happiest. I told everyone “OK” and cuddled mum and dad.

I am already in the USA and it is clear to see that I can almost walk alone thanks to the care of mum Katherine and dad Timothy, grandma Iva and grandpa Zhoro and all people from the Complex!

Grandma Iva and grandpa Zhoro taught me so many things – not to be afraid because there is always someone who will take care of me, to smile, to be sad because this happens to all normal kids, to talk, to sing, to tell stories, to be able to move my legs and hands, to draw with pencils and crayons. They taught me to be happy with my new family. Thank you!