Sara and her husband, Dennis, always dreamed of starting a family: the kind where the kitchen table is never quiet, stories are shared at the end of the day, and family means showing up for one another through everything.
Through her work as a pediatric nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, both Sara and her husband had become more aware of the realities many children impacted by foster care face on their journey to a safe and nurturing home. As the couple discussed how they could grow their family in a different way, they became very open to exploring fostering.
In 2013, Sara and Dennis officially became licensed to foster. Stepping in with open hearts, they learned quickly that foster care begins with reunification as the goal. It required patience, resilience, and a willingness to trust the process even when outcomes were uncertain. There were moments that felt discouraging, including times they were not selected to adopt. Still, they stayed committed.
That commitment was rewarded in October 2014 when they received a call that would change everything. A newborn baby girl named Giada needed a home.
Just one week later, another call came. Giada had two older sisters, Kirsten and Alyiah, who were in foster care and wanted to meet their baby sister. Without hesitation, Sara and Dennis welcomed the opportunity for the girls to get to know one another through visits.
They started slowly building trust and connection. Small moments became milestones. Outings together. Conversations. Shared experiences that began to stitch the beginnings of a family. When the opportunity came to care for all three girls together during a short respite stay, Sara and Dennis said yes again. And when it was time for a more permanent step, they didn’t question it. They couldn’t imagine separating sisters who belonged together.
By June 2015, all three girls were living under one roof, and on February 3, 2016, the Owens family officially adopted Giada, Kirsten, and Alyiah. It was a joyful day, and a deeply meaningful one. Sara and Dennis understood the weight of that moment, sharing an emotional conversation with the girls’ birth mother and promising to care for them, love them fully, and provide the stability every child deserves—a promise that continues to shape their family every day.
Their home is filled with intention, from family dinners that create space for connection to a simple tradition called “The Rose, The Bud, and The Thorn,” where each person shares a joy, a hope, and a challenge. Like all families, their journey has included moments of difficulty, especially as they patiently supported their children in healing from past trauma through appointments and therapies. It has required flexibility, understanding, and growth—but as they will tell you, while it hasn’t always been easy, it has always been worth it. Today, their family is thriving.
Kirsten, a protective older sister, is now in college at Missouri State University studying nursing and giving back through her own involvement in philanthropy. Alyiah is preparing to graduate high school and has already begun building her future in cosmetology and esthetics. Giada, now 11, is discovering new passions like horseback riding and learning more about who she is becoming. Each of them stepping confidently into what comes next, supported by a family that chose them and continues to choose them every single day.
Behind their story is a network of support that helped make it possible. Through the Coalition, Sara and Dennis found guidance when they needed it most. Whether it was connecting to therapists, navigating educational needs, or accessing essential parent trainings, they were never alone in figuring things out. With programs like Little Wishes, Birthday Buddies, Back to School Bonanza, and Project Dream Dress, the girls experienced tangible reminders that they were seen, supported, and celebrated by their community.
That support made a difference not just in moments of need, but in the everyday work of building a strong, stable home.
As they recently celebrated their 10-year adoption anniversary, the Owens found themselves reflecting with gratitude—for how far their family has come and for the community that has stood beside them every step of the way.
For the Owens family—and so many others—your support helps create stability and hope. It helps ensure that children who have experienced instability can find what every child deserves. A safe place. A steady presence. A family to call their own. For every child, a place to call home is not just an idea. With your support, it becomes reality.