10-year-old foster child is searching for a loving family: 'I'll do anything for them'

Three years ago, Jeremiah was taken in by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (due to unknown circumstances) and has since lived in a group home. He loves swimming, reading, playing video games, and goes by the nickname The Jerminator (which he received for good behavior). His biggest wish is for a family of his own. “I want to be adopted because I get beat up in my group home,” he told Oklahoma News 4 on Tuesday.

Jeremiah’s dreams are simple: “There would be a nice woman. There would be a nice husband. There would be nice kids. There would be pets. I’ll do anything for them.”

The situation is urgent for Jeremiah who doesn’t feel safe in his environment. “I want to be adopted because I get beat up in my group home,” he told News 4. “Cuz by the time I’m 18, I might not be adopted by then, and I don’t want that to happen to me. And I don’t want to be in a group home until I’m 18.” 

Jeremiah has touched the hearts of so many on social media and his story has been called “heartbreaking.”

“Having adopted a 16-year-old foster child who was my CASA advocate child since he was 12, I can tell you that the love they need is so important,” wrote one man on Facebook. “You will literally change the whole world by giving one child a chance at life. Trust me.” And one woman wrote, “This is so sad can’t wait to start the process next year for adoption!!! I just wanna give these kids a hug and tell them they are all loved!!! So sad.”

A representative from Oklahoma Department of Human Services did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, per the national project Adopt Us Kids, of the 9,000 kids in state custody, there are 500 waiting for adoptive families.

Similar kids, such as Davion Only, have tugged at the internet’s heartstrings. In 2013, the orphaned 15-year-old who lived in 20 different foster homes, made a public plea in a Florida church for a family. “I’ll take anyone,” he told the Tampa Bay Times. “Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don’t care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be.” After his speech, the Florida Department of Children and Families reportedly received 300 calls from people interested in adopting Only. However, the honor went to his caseworker Connie Going. 

“He always felt like my child, but we finally made it official,” Connie told People in 2015. “We’re so excited.”

In 2017, a family of five siblings, ages, 11, 10, 8, 6, and 2, who were placed in separate foster homes, posed for an ad in The Kansas City Star appealing for a family to adopt them together. According to People, more than 3,000 people requested to adopt the children, and earlier this year, they were awarded custody to a childless Kansas couple. “We feel blessed,” new father Jeff Whaley told the newspaper. 

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Adoption, Foster Care Agencies That Shun LGBTQ People Get Millions From Taxpayers
• South Dakota Demands Gay Fathers Finance Adoption Prejudice
• One mother left me on the steps of an orphanage. The other adopted me. I’m grateful for both.

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