It is hard to say who showed more courage: the children or their foster mother. The two siblings, Emilia and Alex, and their foster mother, Costinela, have faced unimaginable hardships.
When they were 3 and 5, the sister and brother suffered severe burns in a fire that broke out in their home. They were placed in the care of the authorities, in a family-type home for children with severe disabilities.
A year after the accident, in 2020, Costinela welcomed the children into her family.
"I was told there would be a lot of work—doctor visits, caregiving, administering pressotherapy massages, and applying compression bandages. I can’t say exactly what made me go through with it. I just said, 'Yes, I want to.' And I managed," says Costinela, recalling the moment she decided—with her husband’s support—to become a foster parent to Emilia and Alex.
The foster mother’s courage and love changed the two siblings' lives.
After six years marked by surgeries, pain, and hospital stays—but also immense strength and love—Emilia and Alex now enjoy their childhood; they play, joke, go on vacation, and are fully integrated into the family and the community, both at school and at church.
"We live as a family; we do homework and everything else together. They know everything about everything and have their own belongings, clothes, and toys. There are no boundaries between us, because we are a whole," says the foster mother, her eyes shining with love.
©UNICEF/Adrian Câtu
Together, any obstacle is easier to overcome
Their road to recovery is still long, but with Costinela by their side, any obstacle can be overcome more easily.
For children with severe disabilities growing up in care centers, the chances of being placed in the care of a foster parent are lower.
Their care involves participating in therapies as well as habilitation and rehabilitation services—efforts that sometimes require extraordinary dedication.
UNICEF works with partners to ensure that more children who need protection—including those with severe disabilities—can grow up in a family environment provided through foster care. Beyond specialized therapies, children need love and stability to thrive—which a family environment offers best.
A foster parent can change the life of children who need protection.
Help Emilia, Alex and other children experience the warmth of a family.
Activate a monthly donation now. Month after month, your contribution helps vulnerable children enjoy a better childhood.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, working to protect and promote the rights of every child, everywhere. We work to help the most vulnerable with health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more.
Thanks to support from donors like you, we have been able to make a difference for children in need, to save, nurture, and protect the most vulnerable. We are active in over 190 countries and territories and have helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization.
You can choose to securely make a one-time or monthly donation online, by clicking the Donation button.
To contribute to a fundamental change in the lives of vulnerable children, the longer you choose to get involved, the more powerful your donation will be.
Vulnerable children’s lives can be improved with your constant support. By donating, you become an active part of the solution and of the change process.
The money raised is used where it is needed for vulnerable children. For example, to provide free access to specialized services for vulnerable children in Romania or offer a rapid and effective response to children affected by wars and natural disasters.
UNICEF asks for monthly contributions to help us provide sustainable long-term solutions to help children around the world.
Please note that the stories of children and price point descriptions mentioned (if any) are to illustrate activities and the impact your donation can make on the lives of vulnerable children from Romania and around the world. UNICEF, based on the needs on the ground, will allocate resources to areas that need funds the most.
A monthly gift is a recurring gift amount that you choose to send each month, and it is even more impactful because you're helping children every single day.
Your monthly gift will also enable us to plan effectively in our upcoming work, reduce costs and most importantly, reach even more children in need. The support and generosity of monthly donors contribute significantly to UNICEF efforts to help vulnerable children.
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