November 5, 2004
Valdosta - To hear Cathy Burks talk about her children, you'd never guess they were adopted. "Inside I can't tell the difference, in my heart I can't tell which child I had naturally and which one I didn't," said Burks.
Burks has three daughters she actually gave birth to, and two sons she and her husband adopted. Both boys have disabilities and raising them as her own hasn't always been easy. "It's been a challenge, but parenting is a challenge," said Burks.
But giving the boys a safe home with loving parents has been the most rewarding experience of her life. "There's not a day that goes by that he doesn't tell me he loves me, said Burks.
November is National Adoption Awareness month. More than 250 children are up for adoption in Georgia, waiting for a family with whom they can find a safe home.
Beth Mathis helps place children with foster and adoptive families, and says Georgia is at a crisis for more homes. "Most couples usually wait nine months to have a child and some children wait years and years to have parents," said Mathis.
Anyone can be an adoptive parent, as long as you have the financial resources to support the children. But its crucial that people realize "When you adopt a child, its permanent and you have to be committed," said Burks.
Committed to giving kids like Cathy's a safe and stable home, and a family they can finally call their own.
posted at 2:50 P.M. by ashley.harper@walb.com
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