June 5th 2024.
After over three decades of fostering more than 40 children, Emma Patterson, an 88-year-old resident of Montgomery County in Maryland, is ready to retire. Her unwavering dedication and impact on the community have not gone unnoticed, as the county honored her on May 31st, the last day of Foster Parent Appreciation Month. County Executive Marc Elrich praised her efforts during the ceremony, presenting her with a well-deserved certificate of appreciation. "You've quietly made a significant difference in the lives of dozens of children," said Elrich, echoing the same sentiment expressed by many who have witnessed Patterson's remarkable work.
Patterson's foster children, many of whom attended the ceremony, are a testament to her love and care. They have gone on to achieve great things, becoming college graduates, business owners, medical professionals, and accomplished athletes. Patterson's devotion to her foster children is evident in the fact that she even adopted two of them, raising them alongside her two biological children. Her journey as a foster parent began in the early 1980s when her own children started bringing home friends in need of food or shelter, as reported by NBC4 Washington. Growing up in a loving and adoring home herself, Patterson couldn't bear the thought of a child not experiencing the same love and care. And so, she opened her heart and home to children of all ages, including babies like Madison Scott, who arrived at just 5 months old.
Scott, now a University of Mississippi basketball player, credits Patterson for her success and says she wouldn't be where she is today without "Nana." "She's loved us, she's cared for us, she's done everything," said Scott, grateful for the unwavering support and love she received from Patterson. In fact, Patterson even took in Scott and her mother, treating them as her own family. This is just one of the countless examples of Patterson's selflessness and compassion as a foster parent.
As Patterson plans to retire once her current foster child graduates from high school, she cites her lack of computer skills as a reason. However, her legacy as a dedicated and loving foster parent will live on. Her impact on the lives of the children she has cared for is immeasurable, and her kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. Thank you, Emma Patterson, for your incredible dedication and for making a positive difference in the lives of so many children. You truly are a foster mom extraordinaire.
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