Stephen Bauer and Megan Finlan were already parents to four of their own children when they adopted their fifth child, Aidric, at just two years old. In most cases, adoption for a child means a fulfilling life in a forever family. But adoption for Aidric was far from that fairytale ending.
Rather than being loved, nurtured and raised into a strong young man as parents do, Aidric’s parents starved him for years.
Eighteen months ago, Aidric was put on Child Protective Services radar in Omaha, Nebraska.
At eight years old, he weighed only 35 pounds. CPS workers found him wearing size 3T clothing and severely malnourished.
In November of 2015, Aidric was rescued for good.
“[W]hen police picked him up from school one November day in 2015, he was thrilled, because he knew he’d never have to go back to the Bauer house again.”
A doctor that testified said the boy would go days without being fed by his parents. And according to police, Aidric had to have many of his teeth removed because of their deteriorating state.
Both Bauer and Finlan were slapped with felony charges of child abuse, and are currently at risk for losing custody of their four other children.
Aidric, however, finally has the forever family he deserves.
Shannon Foster—a teacher at Aidric’s school—and her husband, Jimmie, adopted Aidric after he was removed from the Bauers’ care.
Shannon remembers seeing Aidric in the hallway at Florence Elementary and thinking, “He was one of those kids where you say, ‘I’ll take him in a heartbeat.’”
After adopting him, Shannon and Jimmie gave Aidric a new name—Cameron Foster.
He chose his new name at his adoption to match the names of his now older brothers.
The Fosters had Cameron—who is now nine years old—repeat the second grade. He was too hungry to focus and develop correctly the first time through.
In the past 18 months, their sole focus has been on feeding their new son and nurturing him back to health. But with Cameron’s trauma comes internal battles of their own:
“I can’t fathom it,” Shannon says. “I can’t fathom doing this to a child.”
As Cameron’s memories surface, and he talks to his new family, the Fosters get a glimpse into the torture their son endured.
Jimmie tells local news that they would lock him in the bathroom all weekend long, not giving him any food or water. Cameron has told them he had to drink water out of the toilet because the sink wouldn’t work.
Jimmie says hearing stories from Cameron about his previous childhood is “very horrifying.” He added, “It tests my Christianity for sure.”
It’s taken time, and Cameron still carries trauma that will forever haunt him and his new family. But today, he’s a new kid. He’s tall and built like an eight-year-old should be.
Cameron’s only wish is to never go back. And he knows that he won’t.
But most importantly, Cameron now understands the true meaning of love and family.
Jimmie reiterates the love they have for their son by saying:
“You know, when someone loves you, they love you. They don’t just love you some of the time. They don’t just love you when you’re doing good things. They love you all of the time. That’s what families are supposed to do.”
Thank goodness for the Fosters and their hearts to give Cameron the forever family every child deserves.
Our prayers are with them all as Cameron grows up and navigates life after trauma.
