Grandmother reflects on adoption, foster children

Kathy Sickle enjoys spending time with her 12 grandchildren. Joining her for a day at the park are Laken, Jayson, Sophia and Gracie the dog.

“When my oldest daughter was a teenager, she always thought she would adopt. Over the past three or four years their family has taken in about 12 foster kids. They adopted two little boys and will be adopting another little girl, probably next year. They just feel like this is their ministry.

“Now with our children all grown and out of the house, my husband and I are thinking about hosting a kid from the Boys and Girls Harbor in La Porte. You can take them for a weekend or for holidays to get them out of that orphanage type setting for a while.

“I feel for those kinds of kids. I was adopted by my grandparents when I was 6 months old. I never met my real mother. My father was in and out of my life. I kind of knew he was my dad, but nobody really said anything. I haven’t seen him for about 30 years. It’s kind of sad. I’d like to know what happened to him.

“I found some cousins recently. They’re trying to dig up some pictures of my mother. She had polio and was crippled in one leg. She died in 1975. I’m originally from Indiana, so I’m hoping to go back there next year, look into some things and see some cousins I’ve never met. I’m hoping they find some pictures of my mom. I really want to at least know what she looked like.”

— Kathy Sickle