This is the story of Robert Carter, a 33-year-old resident of Cincinnatus who knows pain all too well.
Imagine growing up in foster care, never finding a permanent “home,” and then deciding to change your life by creating a family of five young souls.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 390,000 children are placed in foster care in the United States. Carter, now a father of five and a successful salon owner, welcomed three brothers into his life in 2018.
Overhearing a conversation among the boys revealed they had a sister, and he realized the siblings had been separated.
Carter was deeply moved upon learning this. He himself had been separated from his siblings at the age of 13 and placed in foster care.
His single mother tried to care for her nine children while battling alcoholism but was unable to manage. Consequently, Carter was forced to become the caretaker of his younger siblings when they were still children.
Despite immense challenges, including stealing food from the grocery store to feed his younger siblings, Carter avoided drugs and alcohol, determined not to repeat his parents’ mistakes.
Even after being placed in foster care, life was tough. After living in two foster homes by the age of 16, Carter started living on his own and took on three jobs to survive.
The hardest part was having no family to return to. He told CBS News, “It was tough. I would never want my kids to experience that.”
Determined to reunite his separated siblings, Carter reached out to a Cincinnati foster placement agency to help locate his missing sisters.
Being the eldest son and a role model for his younger siblings is a responsibility Carter knows all too well.
Having experienced foster care himself, he understood the hardships children faced and became a caring and supportive figure in their lives.
“I used my trauma and suffering as fuel to become a better person, to help people, to live a better life. I can’t describe the joy I felt when my brothers and sisters were reunited.”
Each of the five children was placed in foster care, then separated, painfully reminiscent of Carter’s past.
The parallels between his childhood and the children’s experiences are striking. Inspired by his tough upbringing, Carter wanted to give back what he himself had been deprived of.
He officially adopted all five siblings so they could grow up together. Today, the family is thriving, creating new memories each day.
All the children help their father with whatever needs to be done at the salon. Carter’s actions show that one person can have a tremendous impact on others’ lives.
By becoming a foster parent and reuniting his siblings, he not only provided them with a stable and loving home but also helped them overcome the trauma of separation.
According to CBS News, Carter has managed to reconcile with his parents, so the children also have grandparents now.
