Jeremy’s Story

Jeremy is a bright, funny, sweet little boy who has been in care for several years. For most of that time, he had one steady thing, his brother. They were placed together and for nearly two years, they navigated through the foster care system together.

Eventually, their mother’s parental rights were terminated, and shortly thereafter, an out-of-state relative came forward, willing to adopt both boys. It was a wonderful solution for them; not only did they get to stay together, but they were going to still be with family. It took months of preparation, but after a time, the placement was approved and the boys left Florida, excited to start the next chapter of their young lives.

Just a few months later, still struggling to adapt, that placement ended for Jeremy. His brother stayed, but Jeremy couldn’t, and he was brought back to Florida and placed in a group home.

Sibling separation in the child welfare system is its own kind of loss. For many children, a brother or sister is the only consistent relationship they have, the one person who understands without explanation. When that bond is broken, it doesn’t just create distance, it creates questions. “Why them and not me?” “What did I do wrong?” For a child already carrying so much, that kind of separation can shape how a child sees themselves in ways they might not even understand.

As services have started again for Jeremy here in Florida, we were contacted to see if Polar could spend a day with him. He had been given one of Polar’s stuffies previously, a gift he cherished, and was excited beyond measure to find out that not only was Polar a real dog, but that he was going to get to meet him!

We drove to a local park where we joined Jeremy for some play therapy. Outside, in the fresh air, a boy and a dog walked through the park. No big plans, just hanging out, watching people pass by and letting the conversation flow naturally. It was such a fun day for both Polar and for Jeremy that by the end of it, they were both exhausted!

But we had one last surprise for Jeremy. We had learned that somewhere along the way, he had lost his stuffed Polar. One of our amazing community partners, the West Pasco Board of Realtors, had donated a life-sized yellow labrador stuffed animal to Hero to a Child; a big, soft version of the dog who had just spent the morning with him. When Jeremy saw it, his face lit up, he wrapped his arms around it and didn’t let go, making plans to figure out how his Polar was going to sleep in his bed with him.

At Hero to a Child, we see a lot of hard things in this work, but moments like this, when a child can set that weight down, even for a little while, are the ones that stay with us. Being able to offer that kind of space, even briefly, is something we are honored to be a part of.