Sally (56) and Barry (66), who live in Mayland, near Chelmsford, have been providing respite care for 12-year-old Martha over the last three and a half years.
Martha, who was diagnosed with a genetic disorder when she was 6 years old, is not able to speak and needs help dressing, washing, feeding, and going to the bathroom.
Whilst Sally and Barry acknowledge that Martha has her challenges, they credit the support and specialist training they have been given by Essex County Council to give them to tools to better support Martha.
“The joy we get from fostering Martha is enormous. It really is the best job in the world, but it doesn’t feel like a job. She feels like a part of our family.
“We don’t just feel like we are making a difference to each child we foster, but also to their families. It struck us early on when Martha’s parents commented that they could play monopoly with their other three children whilst she was with us. They could never have done that with her around. Its these small opportunities that can make such a big difference to a family”.
Read more of Sally and Barry's fostering story in their blog.
To hear the other side of their story, read Georgina Tweed's blog. She's Martha's mother and she talks about the difference having the support of foster carers has made to their whole family.