Officer Jody Thompson is used to responding to calls, but nothing prepared him for what he was about to see when he went inside this home. He had no idea that this day is going to change his life dramatically.
When Thompson responded to the call, he was not prepared to see how messed up the situation was. There was filth everywhere. And to his surprise, he saw a young among all that chaos. The scared boy looked up at this officer. But despite his fear, he somehow knew that the police officer was going to rescue him and take him away from this awful situation.
He said, “When I seen him in the house, I knew.”
With one look, Thompson knew that the little boy named John had not eaten in a long time. It was also obvious that John is a victim of physical abuse. In his poor state, Thompson decided to take him to the hospital where he needed to be placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Thompson made sure that he is by the boys’ side all this time. John was terrified of what’s happening to him and around him, but with the officer beside him, he seemed to understand that he is going to be okay.
Little did he know that the officer who rescued him had already contacted his wife about the situation. Thompson wanted to adopt John. He knew that the boy needed a home and a family. After what happened to him, the officer knew that both of his parents are going to jail. And when this happens, John is going to end up in the foster system.
Young children who enter the foster system are often separated from their siblings if they have any, they have little stability, and some even suffer further abuse. In the US, in every single state, children are suffering due to the foster system. And most kids do not get adopted. Every year many of them age out of the foster system. And when this happens, they end up being homeless. And Thompson cannot help but worry for John. After what he has been through, he deserves better.
Soon, Thompson and his wife began the process of adopting John. As expected, this process was slow but it progressed. Then one year later, John was officially part of the Thompson family!
John survived his ordeal at the hospital and when he came into the Thompsons’ home, they knew instantly that he belonged with them. In no time, he gained his confidence back and once again became a happy kid. And at school, he was getting straight A’s. in fact, he ended up in the gifted and talented program.
But while the adoption was being processed, the Thompsons learned something else. And they knew that this is going to change everything in their lives. They just had John and this happened.
You see, when John’s biological mother went to prison, she was pregnant. She then gave birth to a baby girl. As soon as they could, the Thompsons did not hesitate to adopt Johns’ biological sister to ensure that she will not end up in the foster system and would have a safe home and a loving family.
Jody Thompson explained, “We picked her up at the hospital. She was barely 24 hours old and brought her home.”
Jody Thompson has made a huge difference not only to Johns’ life but to her sister as well. Thanks to him and his family who willingly opened up their home and their hearts, two children are able to live the lives they deserve.
