Couple Shares Their Journey of Fostering Kids With Special Needs with the Housers

In this heartwarming episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian Mavis and Travis Vangsnes interview Woody and Mindy Houser, an inspiring couple from South Dakota who specialize in caring for children with high-level medical needs. The Housers share their journey into foster care, which began after the stillbirth of their daughter and led them to adopt two children from Korea and eventually foster children with significant medical needs.
Woody and Mindy discuss the challenges and rewards of fostering medically fragile children, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and support. Their real estate and property management business provides the necessary flexibility to attend numerous medical appointments and provide the specialized care these children need. They highlight how their own children have been positively impacted by their foster siblings, developing compassion and a sense of responsibility.
The episode explores the Housers' experiences with various medical conditions, including genetic syndromes and the use of medical equipment like ventilators and feeding tubes. They also discuss the importance of building a strong medical team and the support they receive from healthcare professionals.
Woody and Mindy emphasize that you don't need a medical background to foster medically fragile children—just a willingness to learn and a big heart. They provide practical advice for prospective foster parents, including the importance of building relationships with medical professionals and leveraging community resources.
Throughout the episode, the Housers' dedication and love for their foster children shine through, offering valuable insights and inspiration for anyone interested in foster care, especially for children with special needs.

Takeaways
The importance of building relationships with biological families in foster care.
The challenges and rewards of fostering medically fragile children.
The impact on their own children and the family dynamic.
The flexibility and support required to care for children with high-level medical needs. The importance of building connections and support networks within the foster care community
The role of foster parents as bridge makers and peacemakers, emphasizing the need to prioritize the child's well-being
The significance of mentorship and support for new foster parents, and the impact of including foster kids in family events
The positive outcomes of fostering sibling groups and medically fragile children, and the challenges and rewards of fostering relationships

Sound Bites
"We own a real estate and property management business, which does allow us to be a little bit more flexible in our lives."
"We're just 30 miles south of Sioux Falls. So we're in the east, southeast side of South Dakota."
"The people that have gotten to know, the relationships I've made, just really great people that have come into our lives because of this."
"We're all hooked up, that family just through a Facebook message group."
"I think you ought to be mentors to other foster parents."
"You just have to go into foster care, not wanting to adopt that child at least."

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