Levi’s Journey From 25 Homes to a Disney World Trip with His Sisters

When Melissa spotted a shirt online that said Disney Days, she had no idea that one simple wish would lead to something unforgettable. “I remember saying, ‘I wish there were a Disney Days event in Florida,’” Melissa shared. “My foster son has two sisters who are in another home. It’d be nice for Levi to be able to go and spend the day with his sisters at Disney World.” That moment sparked the beginning of Levi’s Disney World trip with his sisters; a day that would become a part of his journey towards hope and healing.

At only 4 years old, Levi had lived in 24 different foster homes.

Let that number sit for a moment.

Twenty-four different families. Twenty-four new sets of rules, beds, routines, faces. By the time most kids start kindergarten, Levi had already learned how to say goodbye more times than most of us will in a lifetime. He entered foster care at 17 months old, placed separately from his sisters.

When Melissa and her wife first got the call about taking him in, they were understandably hesitant.

“Placement was practically begging us to take him. We’re like, ‘Why? Why so many homes?” she recalled.

But when they met him, they saw a boy who just needed a chance.

“When he came into our home, he was totally fine,” she points out. “I mean, he has behaviors… but our seven-year-old [biological son] has behaviors too. At the end of the day, kids will be kids and when you’re a foster parent, you have to expect some level of trauma.”

Melissa and her wife began to rebuild Levi’s narrative as a troubled kid. Slowly, patiently, through everyday moments of care, they gave Levi structure, safety, and stability he needed. They gave him space to be a kid again. Now, at 6 years old, they have adopted him.

“Sometimes kids end up with bad raps in foster care.” Melissa explains, “Levi had it stuck in his head that he was a bad kid, and to him, that was ok ’cause he would just get relocated to another home and the cycle would continue. It was important for my wife and I to break the cycle. To give Levi worth and love no matter what!”

She adds, “Even now, if he gets in trouble, he’ll yell, ‘I’m the worst!’ and I’m like, ‘No, honey, you’re not!’ It just sticks with the kid the whole time they’re in foster care.”

A Changed Perspective

Melissa reflected on how fostering, and seeing her sister’s work with Foster Love, had changed her mindset.

“Since becoming a foster parent, my whole mindset has changed. My wife and I wanted to adopt, grow our family, and that was it. But then you see the faces and you hear the stories, and suddenly, your own wants no longer matter. All that matters is the children in your home and doing what’s best for them. Whether that’s working with their parents or packing their bags so they can go live with a family member. Since starting our foster journey, our hearts have been broken many times, and we’ve had to say so many goodbyes…but we’ve always done it for the best interest of our kiddos. These kids come into this life and, at no fault of their own, end up—like in Levi’s case—getting passed around to 25 different homes. I cannot even fathom that.”

Keeping Sibling Bonds Strong

As Levi settled into their family, Melissa and her wife focused on helping him feel safe and loved. But there was one thing missing: his siblings. 

The last time Levi and his sisters shared a home was three years ago. Knowing it was important to keep sibling relationships strong, Melissa and her wife reached out to their case manager and were able to arrange phone calls with Levi. “Ever since then, we’ve stayed in contact, merging our families the best we can. We plan on keeping the bond between the kids. This is extremely important to us.“

“Sometimes sibling groups will bond with their foster family,” she explains.

This is what happened in Levi’s case. His sisters have lived with their foster family practically since birth, and the only mother and father they know are their foster parents. They also have four non-biological siblings in that family.

“Levi had bonded with my wife and me, and our son,” Melissa says. “To save the children from even more trauma, we decided to adopt separately and vowed to do what we can as parents to continue communication. The saying ‘it takes a village‘ has never been truer than it is in foster care.”

But even with phone calls, Melissa wanted Levi and his sisters to have a real memory together, something completely their own. When she learned about Disney Days in Orlando, she saw the perfect chance to create that moment.

With support from Foster Love, Levi’s Disney World trip with his sisters started to take shape. Melissa and her wife planned every detail, making sure it would be a day they would never forget. Their biological son joined too, making the day even more special as all the kids could share in the experience as one big family.

Getting to Be a Big Brother Again

The day finally came, and the kids were excited. “He was excited to see his sisters,” Melissa remembers. And for one perfect day, they all just got to be kids.

“I bought the boys some matching Disney shirts, and then I bought the girls some Mickey ears ahead of time so they could wear them into the park.” Melissa laughs, “We’re trying to get pictures, and of course, being in Florida, it just starts pouring rain. Luckily, we had ponchos and umbrellas. We found somewhere to go and got some snacks and waited for the rain to die down, which it did. Then it was off to as many rides as possible.”

Levi immediately stepped into his role as the protective big brother as they all walked together through the park.

“Levi was helping them pick out their toys, and it was just really sweet. It’s nice watching him be able to be a big brother,” Melissa said fondly.

“He’s very protective. At one point, we were waiting in line for one of the rides, and they were sitting on the floor. And they put their heads on each other’s laps. He would also move [his sisters] to the side so people wouldn’t accidentally walk into them, as if he was guiding them. He is such a good big brother, and he doesn’t get to do that because of the situation.”

It’s not about where you are, it’s who you’re with…

A day at Disney is certainly exciting, but this trip was more than just the rides and excitement. For their family, the highlight of the day was togetherness.

“We went on as many rides and ate lots of delicious food like cotton candy, ice cream, and pizza. We also met some characters and didn’t miss the firework show. We stayed ’til the very end, as long as we could, so the kids could be kids and enjoy the magic in the air. But it was also heartwarming to see the kids together and giving them that moment. It was fun—it was a fun day! More than anything, they were just excited to be with each other.”

Memories That Will Last a Lifetime

Levi’s Disney World trip with his sisters went beyond a day at a theme park. It was about giving three siblings the freedom to just be together. To laugh. To explore. To share small moments of tenderness that they don’t often get.

“Overall, the day meant a lot,” Melissa said. “It’s memories. It’s a day that they get to escape their reality and, more importantly, have fun! These kids have been through so much; they got to create memories with each other. After losing so much in their lives, this is something that can never be taken from them.” 

Today, Melissa and her wife have officially adopted Levi! As they embark on this new chapter, they remain deeply committed to keeping their bond strong.

You can help make more moments like Levi’s Disney World trip possible for other children in foster care. Because every child deserves a day to feel joy, to feel normal, and to know they’re loved.

Donate today or volunteer to create memories that last a lifetime.