Linda Owens was in her 30's when a medical procedure made it so she would not be able to have any more children. Linda loves babies and hoped to have more. After a few years of sulking about it, she decided that it was a blessing . "If I became a foster care mom then I would get to raise babies but when they get to a certain age I give them back". The retired grocery department manager has served as a mother to more than 80 infants during the 34 years she’s served as a resource parent.
The 78-year-old fosters them as a single parent and she sometimes has two infants in her care at once. Many of the newborns Owens takes in come to her exposed to drugs in the womb, some have developmental delays and she always welcomes them with open arms. “It’s a challenging job,” she says, “but very rewarding.”
Dr. Hiramatsu from Alameda County Department of Children & Family Services says "we have 500 resource parents, Owens is one of the longest-serving. She’s in a category all by herself,”
The California foster mom keeps a supply of baby gear and clothes on hand so she’s ready for the next baby’s arrival. She says, “This is what God handed me a gift to do.”