One autumn evening, the phone rang for the on-call foster parent Laura Sivakonenko. She was informed that an infant, only a few weeks old, urgently needed care. The girl arrived at her home very weak – underweight, and soon the first health and developmental difficulties became apparent. At that time, no one could say how her journey would unfold, according to a press release from “SOS Children’s Villages”.
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Today, Sofija is a curious, agile, and active girl, enjoying new discoveries. However, behind this change lies not a miracle, but the daily work of the on-call foster parent and an entire team of specialists who helped the baby from the very first days.
As Laura recounts, on-call foster parents always live prepared – upon receiving a call, they must quickly prepare their home and welcome a child who, at that moment, most needs a safe environment. “About an hour later, the girl was already in our home,” she recalls. However, the role of an on-call foster parent is not limited to daily child care. For a child to recover and grow, help from specialists in various fields is often needed. Sofija’s story reveals what a change collaborative work can create when the foster parent and specialists work together for the child’s well-being.
“When I first saw her, I realized that a difficult path lay ahead. She was very tiny and weak, underweight. We knew almost nothing about the girl’s health history, so every day was full of uncertainty,” recalls on-call foster parent Laura Sivakonenko.
Soon more challenges emerged – Sofija was diagnosed with third-degree hip dysplasia, requiring her to wear a “Frejka” pillow. Later, eating difficulties also became apparent, becoming one of the biggest daily challenges.
Care alone is not enough
As Sofija grew, it became clear that some of her developmental stages required more time and additional specialist help. “It was time for complementary feeding, but she showed no interest in food at all. It seemed that food was simply uninteresting to her. We tried various products, different textures, but there was almost no progress. Then I realized that we wouldn’t overcome this challenge on our own,” says L. Sivakonenko.
The family sought help from specialists. First, work began with eating therapist Vaida Gudeliūnaitė-Kažukauskienė, later joined by myofunctional therapy specialist, physiotherapist Evelina Vičiulė. Even earlier, Sofija also attended Vojta therapy sessions. After assessing Sofija’s condition, it became clear that she had a strong tongue-thrust reflex, which made it difficult to accept food, learn to eat, and transition to a regular diet.
However, as Laura emphasizes, consultations were only part of the entire process: “Specialists don’t do everything for the foster parent. They help to understand what is happening, show the direction, and teach what to do. And the biggest work happens at home – repeating exercises every day, observing the child’s reactions, and patiently waiting for changes.”
There were situations when the specialist stood by, showing how to perform the exercises, while Laura herself did all the work with Sofija. This helped the girl feel safer, and provided the foster parent with knowledge and skills that she could apply in everyday life.
Changes are created by everyday life
The biggest change, according to the on-call foster parent, did not happen overnight. Gradually, Sofija began to show interest in food, learned to chew, taste new flavors, and drink from a cup. At the same time, her motor development also rapidly improved.
“I am very glad that we didn’t wait, hoping that the difficulties would resolve themselves. We sought help immediately, and therefore the results came faster. When you see a child who previously showed no interest in food, start eating, tasting, and enjoying new flavors on their own, you realize that all the work put in was meaningful. Such moments give a lot of strength,” says the on-call foster parent with joy.
Today, Sofija eats a variety of foods, moves actively, is curious, and takes new steps every day. “It’s a huge joy. Of course, every child develops at their own pace, but today I see a completely different child than the one who arrived at my home more than a year ago,” recalls L. Sivakonenko.
Help for the child begins with help for the foster parent
Dovydas Španagelis, head of the Lithuanian Foster Care Center, emphasizes that on-call foster parents should not be left alone: “The most vulnerable children often come to the homes of on-call foster parents – infants and toddlers who have experienced neglect, loss, or other difficult experiences. Therefore, along with the child, the foster parent also needs help. A team of specialists not only helps to solve health or developmental difficulties but also provides the foster parent with knowledge and confidence on how to help the child grow daily. Specialists, together with the foster parent, look for the most suitable solutions and help apply recommendations in everyday life. It is precisely this kind of cooperation that allows for the best results.”
According to him, early comprehensive help can be crucial for a child’s future: “The earlier difficulties are noticed and comprehensive help is provided, the more opportunities the child has to catch up in development and grow in a safe environment that meets their needs. Teamwork is essential for this – the knowledge of specialists and the daily involvement of the foster parent.”
No foster parent should be left alone
Laura says that the path of an on-call foster parent requires a lot of patience and inner strength. However, she is convinced that no foster parent should be left alone.
“No foster parent has to know everything. When difficulties arise, it is very important not to be afraid to ask for help. Specialists help to see what you might not notice yourself, and by working together, we can achieve a lot,” says Laura.
She hopes that Sofija’s story will encourage other foster parents not to give up, not to be afraid to seek help, and to believe that patient collaborative work can bring significant changes in a child’s life.
Sometimes it seems that the situation is very difficult and there will be no changes. However, children have an extraordinary capacity to grow and strengthen if there are people around them who believe, work together, and do not give up.
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