Kinship Care Story: Fictive Caregivers Seek to Adopt 9-Year-Old Battling Brain Cancer

Chris and Nicole (names changed for anonymity), both 54, are fictive caregivers. They stepped up to care for their best friend's daughter, nine-year-old Rachel, due to Rachel's parents' ongoing struggle with substance use disorder.

Sadly, Rachel is blind and battling brain cancer. Chris is retired, and Nicole has had to quit her job as an edtech due to Rachel's needs. The couple is currently in the process of adopting Rachel. Step Up Parents assisted this heroic family by paying $400 towards their oil bill.

"Chris and I would like to thank you so much for the assistance," Nicole wrote. "It helps in a BIG way! We have not received foster care reimbursements for over two months, so this is extremely helpful. They have given us a food voucher here and there, so this is just one less thing we have to worry about this month. We appreciate what you are doing to make the lives of foster and kinship families better!"