Brenda Parker holds her adopted daughter Raven, 7, as her other adopted daughter Diamond, 8, left, looks on. Raven was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and Diamond was born four months premature.

As the intake coordinator and visiting nurse for Childkind, a nonprofit foster placement agency for medically fragile children, Mary Anne Wynn, RN, has seen it all. The agency takes children who have been abandoned or abused, children with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome or HIV/AIDS.

"I get to use my nursing knowledge every day in a tangible way and have the joy of knowing I'm helping with a vital human service, but there are times I am humbled by what I see," Wynn said.

Wynn recently visited Ralph and Angela Wilkison, foster parents to Christopher, a 6-year-old with fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy and a heart condition, and Rickelle, a 4-year-old with severe brain damage, cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, no hearing and the loss of sight in one eye. Rickelle is so ill that if it weren't for Angela Wilkison's EMT training, she would be in a hospital.

"I thought that Rickelle had such severe brain damage that she didn't have any awareness of what was going on around her," Wynn said. "But when she was placed on Ralph's lap, I saw her snuggle into him. It was one of those humbling moments, when you realize that nurturing can change a child's prognosis."

The Wilkisons and their four healthy children have made these medically fragile children a part of their home, even taking vacations together.

Both of the children came with failure-to-thrive diagnoses, but are improving.

"Angela was the driving force behind us getting involved," Ralph Wilkison said. "She wanted to foster parent and she has the medical background to listen to the doctors and understand what needs to be done."

Having a heart for special-needs children helps, but so does having a cool head, Angela Wilkison explained. On the way to the pediatrician recently, Rickelle's oxygen and heart rates dropped to lifethreatening levels. "The doctor said to head straight to the ER. My best friend and I suctioned and cranked up the oxygen and we made it," she said.

"One of the hardest things about loving these kids is knowing that their life spans will be shorter . . . and that you have no idea what you'll be getting yourself into," she said.

Karl Lehman, president of Childkind, likens fostering a medically fragile child to planning a trip to Paris and ending up in Holland.

"When you get used to Holland, it can be a very nice place," Lehman said. "For people who want to parent, this is a wonderful, rewarding opportunity and there is such a huge need."

The Department of Family and Children Services estimates that there are more than 400 medically fragile children in Georgia who need foster care. Childkind is actively recruiting new foster parents, especially health care professionals, who have knowledge of medical conditions, patience and compassion.

Foster parents go through screening and about six weeks of training. Medical costs are mostly covered by state services and there is a per diem payment to cover other costs. Parents may work outside the home; there is day-care reimbursement and some children go to public school.

"Our aim is to give these children an increased quality of life and improved health and that's what happens when we find a really good match," Lehman said.

Brenda Parker, LPN, is one of those matches. Having an empty nest seven years ago, Parker decided to foster a child. Today, she cares for six children; two of whom she has adopted. Three use wheelchairs and other equipment but, with the help of her grown daughter and a good system where the older children help the younger ones, they manage car rides and outings to the park.

"This job takes about all your energy, but you get so much out of it," Parker said. "Just seeing the kids get better is worth it. They can't always say ‘thank you,' but you can see it in their faces."

She credits the support of Childkind and good doctors for preparing her to do the job. The agency also has a day-care center and trains volunteers to give caregivers some respite.

"I feel like this is my life plan - to be filling a need and giving back to the community. That's what nurses do," Parker said.

For information on Childkind, call Anna Barnett at 404-248-1980, ext. 231, or visit www.childkind.org.