Spotlight on a special parent

A little more than a year ago, a beautiful baby girl named Deasia was born. Tragically, Deasia was born with most of her brain missing. Deasia was going to die, but no one knew when. She could live for a week, a month, even up to a year, before her little body would fail. Children's Service Society staff contacted one of our treatment foster parents, Toni Tyler-Drain. Toni specializes in providing care for some of our most medically needy children.

Toni said yes when approached by placement staff, and Deasia was placed with her on April  30, 2009. Toni and her grown children loved this little girl and provided the attention and care she needed. Toni even invited Deasia's teen mother and father into her home so they could spend time with Deasia before she died. Toni let the teen parents stay in her home overnight so they could spend the last night of Deasia's life with her. 

Toni and her family then planned and paid for a touching funeral service to commemorate Deasia's short lifetime.

Toni recently received an Outstanding Service Award, presented by her case worker, Steve Gardner. To learn more about Toni, watch this Fox 6 news story.