A Heartbreaking Wish List from an Oklahoma Foster Child: The Simple Desires of a Neglected Boy

The story of a young boy from Oklahoma, shared by the group “Dream Catchers for Abused Children” on Facebook, has left countless people in tears. The group’s mission is to provide support, care, and assistance to children who have suffered from family violence, offering them a chance at a better life.

Many of these children, removed from homes where abuse and neglect are rampant, are placed into temporary care while awaiting adoption. These children long for stability, love, and safety, often finding themselves hoping for the simple things that many take for granted.

One such child from Oklahoma experienced years of torment at the hands of his biological parents. His alcoholic parents subjected him to physical abuse and starvation, stealing away the joy of his early years. For too long, he endured this nightmare, longing for a life that offered even the basics of food, safety, and love.

Eventually, the boy’s neighbors became aware of his suffering and contacted authorities. The boy was removed from his parents’ custody and placed in the care of “Dream Catchers for Abused Children,” a group committed to helping children like him. Thanks to the swift action of volunteers, he was placed into foster care, and before long, an adoptive family was found.

The news of his adoption brought hope to the boy’s life. Finally, there was a chance for him to live the normal life he had been denied for so long. As a way of expressing his dreams for this new chapter, the child penned a simple but profoundly moving wish list addressed to his future adoptive family.

In this wish list, the boy outlined his most basic needs and desires, many of which are heartbreaking in their simplicity. For most, these requests would seem like the bare essentials of everyday life, but for this child, they were the hopes of a better future, free from the horrors he had endured.

Here is the boy’s wish list, which serves as a stark reminder of the things many children in foster care long for:

• I want food and water.
• Don’t hit me.
• A house with running water and lights.
• I want love.
• Mom and dad don’t fight.
• I want no drugs.
• Don’t kill my pets.
• Help with school.
• Nice, clean clothes.
• No lice. No bugs in the house.
• A clean house.
• A clean bed with covers.
• Don’t sell my toys.
• Treat me fairly.
• Don’t get drunk.
• TV in the house.
• Let me keep my school stuff.
• Nice shoes.
• My own comb, soap, and toothbrush.
• A nice, safe house with a heater and coat.

This list is a powerful reminder of the basic needs that many of us take for granted. It’s not filled with extravagant desires or materialistic dreams but with simple requests for a safe, loving, and stable environment. The boy’s wishes speak volumes about the abuse he endured and the deep yearning he has for a home where he can feel secure and loved.

For those who hear his story, it’s impossible not to be moved by the raw honesty in his words. When we reflect on our own lives and challenges, it’s important to remember that there are children, like this boy, whose greatest dreams are for the most basic of human needs—food, safety, love, and care.

The story serves as a powerful call to action for communities, families, and organizations to step up and provide care and love to children in foster care. It is a reminder that every child deserves a chance to grow up in a home filled with love, support, and security.