Ashia Ray Photography

Sharing. Good luck David, it’s been too long without your family.

I hope he finds his mom and family. I shared this and hope it helps!

Shared. In tears. I so wish I could adopt this awesome kid. I live in Central MA too, and I’m a single parent with a 12 year old with special needs and chronic health issues of my own that make parenting just one child very challenging. But I’d adopt him in a second if I knew I could responsibly do so right now. I have always wanted to adopt an older child and life just didn’t work out that way in the end. I can’t stand the thought of a kid growing up that long without a family. Praying that he finds the forever mom he so much deserves. What else can I do to help kids like David know they are loved and supported? I’d like to do the birthday gifts and cards, but what about when it’s not their birthdays? My own daughter has spent time in placements similar to group homes due to her complex needs, and I have some idea how lonely these places can be.

Beautiful photo essay. My favorite shots are the ones with tongue out because they echo my own family photos :) It made me pause because along with his quirky smile and invitation into his magical world, he could be part of my tribe. I wish I wish. But alas, I’m a perfectly imperfect single mom on my own journey. However, his smile will be the object of my compassionate and joyful attention which might just help him a little insy bit attract his perfectly imperfect mom!

Any updates on David? Hoping he’s found his family.

Wow, this is so sad to see. Why has he been in the system so long? As a foster mother, I am always perplexed at how long it take to terminate parental rights and offer children permanancy. Some children have been going back and forth from biological family to foster families since birth. And how does he have a little brother living with grandparents while he’s in care? So many unanswered questions as with most children in state care. Bless his heart. He so deserves a Mama.

My 13 year old son would love a brother like David. This story has touched me deeply, it’s tearing me up that we’re on the West Coast. All my Love & prayers that David’s mother finds him soon.

Please keep us updated on David’s search. I am praying that the right family will see the post.

Shared, and shared by several friends. I pray this sweet boy finds the family he deserves. I will be emailing to see how I can help until he does. Thank you for sharing his story.

Shared with fingers crossed – thank you for posting.

We would love to do something for his birthday! What does he like/ enjoy?

I sent an email. I hope it’s me.

I have plenty of room in my heart but not the physical room in my home We are sending him some birthday presents from the Ward family.

I emailed. I’m in NY and I hope he finds a local family who will love h forever, but my daughter and I are happy to be a backup plan. We’re going to arrange a home study. Thank you for sharing his story. More, please. We need to hear these kids’ stories.

What an amazing beautiful boy. I’m a kinship foster parent in the process of adoption. I’ll be reaching out to his worker to see if I can help in some manner. David is an incredibly resilient child, the simple fact that he has been able to hold on to his boyhood while being in the system for so long is miraculous and heart warming. He is a very special child who deserves the love he longs for.

This is so beautifully written. It could be written about how many foster kids like him? I deeply hope he finds his family soon. And wish the grandparents could be supported to help have him reunited with them as well. So many solutions that are not being worked on. How many kids are not with families because of “poverty” in general? I’d likely be ineligible because of my low income. I am adopted and have always wanted to adopt. I’m not fully sure anymore because I’ve had four kids of my own and have some health issues! And am a single mom. But if things shift just a bit… I’ve also wanted to adopt a “sibling group” but would prefer to do so with a partner than as a single parent… Shared on FB.

I’d love to take in a teen like David. However, none of the workers are willing to place out of birth order, and he’d have to share a room with my 8 year old (also adopted from Massachusetts)

This is beatufifuly written and photographed. He seems like a special kid and this special story will hopefully help him find a special family. I am the proud mother of two children adopted through MA foster care, at ages 3 and 11, now 7 and 16. I will share look forward to seeign an update.

What a beautiful boy… and a heartbreaking story. So many heartbreaking stories out there. Thank you for bringing some very special attention to this young man! .. and please do it again and again for others.. Good luck finding your mama, David!

Love, a mom of 6 (1 bio, 3 adopted & 2 foster)