James, 13 years old, FL

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James entered foster care late last year, and his journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Before that, he lived in isolation—malnourished, abused, and lacking any formal education. Now, despite being smaller than other kids his age, James is full of energy and excitement. James has been catching up on everything he missed, learning the basics like reading, tying his shoelaces, telling time, and even figuring out how to read a calendar. Thanks to his Guardian ad Litem and his new foster parents, he has made incredible progress in such a short time, making up for lost milestones. In his foster home, James is finally experiencing what it means to be nurtured. He has discovered joy in simple things like stuffed animals, Legos, and video games—anything that gets him moving and engages his mind. For the first time in his life, he’s going to school, and his teachers can’t get over what a delight he is, even though he’s a few years behind in every subject. He eagerly volunteers to help out in the classroom and always has a big smile to share. James is truly enthusiastic about his achievements and beams with pride over everything he has learned so far!

James has been begging to go to Epic Universe ever since he learned it would be opening at Universal Studios in Florida. Now that it is finally open, he cannot wait to check it out. He even has his whole day planned out, but just needs the ticket to get it!