KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
December 2, 2021
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy is full of families and some open their hearts to the process of fostering and adopting. See how these Katy families felt called, fulfilled, and wish to inspire others.
Photo courtesy the Hudson Family
Katy Teachers with a Full House
Ron and Camille Reese are both Katy ISD teachers with over 30 years in the education field. They will soon be the proud parents to six children; 3 biological and 3 adopted through fostering. They are in the process of adopting the biological brother of their son, Caleb.
“I have always had it in my heart to adopt,” says Camille Reese. “My husband is one of 7 children, so having a big family was a natural for him.” Of course, such a decision had to have the support of the whole family and their oldest three children were very supportive and excited.
The Reese’s are members of Kingsland Baptist Church and were blessed to learn a lot from their active adoption ministry. After talking to other members, they contacted Depelchin.
“It was such an exciting and scary first step. But once we got the ball rolling, we knew this was the right fit for us,” says Reese. “We met so many amazing people during our trainings. They have become our friends and support system.”
Photo courtesy the Reese Family.
It took the Reeses 9 months to become a licensed foster family. They became an “open” home in July of 2015. 12 hours later they learned about their first foster assignment, a newborn baby boy. When Caleb’s case went up for adoption they knew that they wanted him in their family and his adoption was official on Feb. 22, 2017, but they knew he wouldn’t be the last. Margo’s adoption was finalized on September 26, 2018.
“Last year we got a call from CPS asking us to take Caleb’s biological brother, Jeremiah who is now 2,” says Reese. “Without hesitation, we said “yes”! The greatest gift we could give these boys is to be raised together. Their bond is undeniable.”
“Adoption comes from a great loss. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about their birth mamas,” says Reese. “Although we don’t know them personally, we make sure to answer all the kiddos questions truthfully. We pray for their biological families, and when the time comes, we will help them find them.”
The Reeses have three biological kiddos-Ethan 25, Kayla 23, and Dylan 19. They have adopted two children through foster care and are currently in the process of adopting their third. Caleb 6, Margo 6, and Jeremiah 2.
Finding Love Overseas
Katherine Kurima and her husband, Robert also didn’t feel that their family was complete after having two biological daughters.
Katherine and Robert Kurima and their children: Claire (19,) Olivia (17,) and Nicholas (16.) Photo credit: Katherine Kurima.
“We still felt we had so much love to give and that’s how it started,” says Kurima.
The Kurima Family chose to adopt from Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is no longer adopting children to the U.S.
“I was drawn to Kazakhstan because our girls are half Asian,” says Kurima.
The process took the family 9 months for the paperwork and then they went to visit in June 2009. After meeting their son, Nicholas he was home in Katy within 3 months.
“It was a very stressful process,” recalls Kurima. “We showed up to the baby house and were ushered into the director’s office when a nurse walked in with him.”
The nurse spoke of Nicholas’ personality. He was 3 ½ years old and didn’t speak English.
“He had this smile and we felt drawn to him,” says Kurima on the moment they knew he was the one.
The Kurimas don’t know anything about Nicholas’ birthday parents but they do make a point to acknowledge and honor his birth country.
“We went to the Kazakhstan Embassy when we visited D.C.,” says Kurima. He also took a Russian class during the pandemic and cheers on Olympic Athletes from Kazakhstan.
Nicholas loves sports. He has played lacrosse since fourth grade and is a goalie with the Katy Cavaliers. He is now 16-years-old and a sophomore at Jordan High School.
He also is very creative. Nicholas started Kas Kid Jewelry and is a member of the Houston Gemological Mineral Society.
Kurima wants families to know that choosing a path to adoption is worth it but not easy.
Overseas adoptions, which are harder now, are also very different from adoptions here in the U.S. and can be very traumatic for the child.
“It’s like they are being abducted and dropped onto another planet,” says Kurima.
Through Loss there is Love
“I had fostering on my heart, but husband was a firm no,” says Jessica Hudson. “I felt I was being called for something else.”
The Hudsons have two biological daughters and have experienced some miscarriage. Chris started coming home mentioning that he spoke to someone at work who was adopted, etc. and they decided to learn more about the process.
“We got involved with Loving Houston- an organization born out of helping aged out foster children,” says Hudson. “It was like a punch to the gut. There was so much brokenness in our own backyard.”
The Hudsons have fostered 7 children since they started, many have been sibling pairs. They knew they wanted to adopt and even experienced an adoption that fell through.
“It was a very hard time and we moved to San Antonio but kept involved with Loving Houston,” says Hudson. “I was pregnant again when we moved but then lost the baby.”
The very week when Jessica would have delivered their baby, Loving Houston called with big news.
“They told us that they had this baby and really felt she needed to be with us,” says Hudson. That was how they got Joanna.
“Last August we moved back to the Katy area and picked out a house in Green Trails for a growing family,” says Hudson. “We decided to foster again in the Fall.”
They are now in the process of adopting their son, Louis.
The Hudsons believe that having conversations are healthy.
“We call the birth moms ‘Tummy Moms.’ I say stuff like your Tummy Mom loves you and she had you while I was waiting for you,” says Hudson. “She loves you because she chose to give you life.”
They do not have any information on Joanna’s birth parents but do know Louis’ birth mom.
“I want to give her someone who cares for her so she will make better decisions for herself,” says Hudson.
Katy Families Share Adoption Advice
Fostering and adoption is hard, but like all of these Katy families show- it is worth it.
“Find your people,” says Hudson. “I have been super blessed to know foster families.” Hudson also stresses the importance of caring for yourself because of how emotional the process can be.
“Ultimately you have no control over what happens to these kids,” says Hudson, who went through 7 fostering placements before feeling somewhat calm with the process.
“It’s not a fairytale. It’s a rough road but an amazing road,” says Kurima. “This path took me from an ordinary road to the extraordinary and made me a better mother to all of my kids.”
Reese stresses that they are not heroes and says that the children in this process are the true heroes.
“They have endured trauma and loss that is unimaginable,” says Reese. “We see it as an honor to be their parents and family.
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