Gift Of Love Success Stories - KLTV.com - Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |ETX News

For the last four years, Channel 7 has made a commitment to finding permanent homes for foster children in East Texas. Since we began running our "Gift of Love" stories in July of 1999, hundreds of you have called our hotline wanting to help. We are proud to report, that 60% of the children we have profiled have now found forever families. We want to share more of these success stories with you. Here's an update on some of the sibling groups you've met in our reports.

October of 2001, you met Greg and John. These brothers were forced to fend for themselves by severe neglect. They have lived through thick and thin, side by side. Nine year old John says, "I want a family that will take care of me and my brother, and will love us forever." His older brother Greg adds, "I'm looking forward to a nice family. A family who will appreciate who I am and all that. They're a family you could love and stay with the rest of your life. That'd be neat."

Greg and John now have the permanent parents they always hoped for after being placed in an adoptive home.

In December of 2001, we brought you the story of Stephanie and her older sister Misty. At the time, they were in separate foster homes hoping to one day be together again. They both longed for stability in a nurturing home. "I want a mom and dad who will be there for me and love me and care of me," says Stephanie. Misty goes on to say, "I've been waiting a long time to be adopted." The wait is now over for both girls after being placed together in a forever family.

We profiled Drakar and his little brother Draylon in April of this year. These little boys have a close bond and case workers say they would be lost if separated. Thankfully, they won't have to experience that. A family is adopting both boys.

While all of these sibling groups have been removed from their home's, they'll never have to worry again about being removed from each other. Adoptive parents are not only sharing the Gift of Love with them, they're allowing these children to truly share the Gift of Family for the rest of their lives.

If you'd like to know more about how to become a foster or adoptive parent, call our Gift of Love hotline. The toll-free number is 1-888-kids-275.

Gillian Sheridan, reporting.