Fostering Special Needs: A Special Adoption Story

Twenty years ago, single mom Pat McCollum decided she wanted to help children in difficult circumstances by becoming a foster and adoptive parent. In 1998, Pat faced her biggest challenge when a foster agency called about a seven-year-old boy who had barely survived a fire as a baby and was in need of a home.
When DJ arrived on Pat’s doorstep, one leg was only a stump, he had no speech and almost no hearing, and his body was almost entirely covered in burn scars. Pat worried she wasn’t up to caring for a child with such profound special needs, but in a few days DJ captured her heart and she became his greatest advocate.
DJ was 21 years old at the time of filming and surrounded by family and a community who care for him. He is learning to walk with new prosthetic legs. He spends time every day at Sonny Spot Too, a day program that provides services to people with disabilities and special needs. Sonny Spot Too has become a way of life and extended family for its clients. They see the value in DJ and work hard to help him reach his highest potential.
Fostering or adopting a child with severe disabilities can be intimidating, people like Pat McCollum are shining examples that anyone can rise to the challenge. (Season 6, Episode 12)

[@kksd2]

There is a special place in Heaven for Pat McCollum, D.J.'s mother!

[@lovelymenicholson646]

Dj is truly blessed to have you as a MOTHER!!!

[@olivedog1880]

if u have a mom like this, feel blessed. not all of us have a mom, or a loving mom. love this.

[@Michelle-jz8vl]

Olive Dog Right! Cause I don’t! Mines can rot for all I care.

[@thandie67]

Chelsea Gallo let it go. You sound like you are a wonderful person.

[@brandyyolidio4213]

You are soo right, my mother unfortunately doesn't care either. Oh well, wish her the best

[@truenorth6999]

It doesn’t take a special mother always, sometimes it absolutely and often takes a special child. No offence intended, I have a disability and my son has disabilities. It is true that life teaches us lessons and most of all love and believe in yourself! Many Blessings 🌟🇳🇿💫

[@evaadams8298]

Olive Dog I had a family like this both mum and a dad so I really know how LUCKY I was. They have passed, but they lived for us and people who needed kindness & help. No money but loads of love. Olive dog please stay safe & well 🙏🇦🇺💙

[@victoriawelch1112]

Real superheroes don't wear capes. This woman is an angel and I'm so happy that this young brother has a loving home,he deserves it. #TEAMDJ!!!

[@aGwEENapple]

I'm happy I came across their beautiful story!

[@paulflood9826]

Trying to write this is is difficult. I’ve worked with autistic kids for 18 months. Autistic kid s are thee most beautiful kind hearted people I’ll ever know.

[@joshuagreene1794]

This is A Real Good Mother Right Here

[@priscila486]

This is real loving Mom, i 'm your fan

[@menchiethecat788]

He's so sweet 😉😉💖👌🏻

[@TheCreativeAutistic37]

she is so sweet and beautiful i love her for it

[@TheCreativeAutistic37]

aww how sweet and kind this beautiful woman is! GOD Bless this woman and her wonderful heart

[@annam.5410]

I admire how she took on the job

[@OnHold_Kyra]

I feel so sad for him but he's still living so good

[@hayleycalderon9427]

This was a beautiful story 💕

[@brandyyolidio4213]

"Everybody had their legs" I was not expecting that statement at all but I'm soo glad she adopted him, what a gorgeous little boy. I wonder where his birth parents are

[@ssb4918]

GREAT MOTHER !!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@contemplatinggod2791]

This woman is extraordinary 😊❤so much love.

[@Michelle-jz8vl]

What an amazing story! What a great mother!

[@kthiggemjones6955]

When he kissed her at his celebratiin party i shed a tear because it shows the genuine love that he has for her and she has for him..such a blessing to each other!!

[@themrduragss]

Heart warming

[@GiantPetRat]

I work for my mother's theatre company Encore, which specializes in casting actors with various disabilities- usually intellectual. I like what DJ's mom said about how DJ is always willing to learn; while I care deeply for all of our actors, our job is always easiest when they're most willing to learn and take direction. Turns out everybody's capable of laziness, lol.

[@kabandizephionah911]

So touching beautiful story

[@bignity1855]

Such an inspiration!

[@cherilynnsorensen668]

This is a beautiful woman 💖

[@shaiantaylor7309]

Kaylee God Bless You Hunnie DJ Really Feels Comfortable Around You ...We Could See It...And Mama God bless you to For Taking In DJ What A Wonderful Group Of People

[@maddie7444]

He's so lucky to have such a strong loving great mother.He's such a sweetie.

[@evaadams8298]

Crying from when she said he smiled at heard and still crying! So so beautiful. What a LADY!!! 💙💙💙 and what a lovely boy Dj is💙💙💙

[@saptadjibarata2329]

I love you so much Mommy Dearest.....😍😍😍

[@knut8062]

Wow! Amazing man and amazing mom.

[@Davidbowieissosilly]

I cried

[@stephanieparsons9112]

What an amazing young man,but let's talk about mom!!!!! DJs mom is an angel from heaven! God bless her and her precious heart!!! Djs mom is a hero!

[@turkish100gun4]

This woman has pure heart❤️

[@joshuagreene1794]

This is A Beautiful Moment

[@charlenef.9055]

Injury, different-ability, doesn't mean that a person is less human not needing to be seen with humane eyes and treated with a humane heart.

[@livinglife8333]

What a special, spectacular momma, God Bless!

[@connieedwards8287]

I'm so glad I got to read your story! It was beautiful and you two are so Blessed to have each other. Hope to read more on his journey!

[@user-yb7pg2if2o]

I thank you for your story.

[@delprieststokes9133]

This family needs a movie 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@lisamutange1337]

Thank you for this😊

[@funfriendsgamesdancealex8597]

I kinda like DJ he looks cute I love his hair

[@kthiggemjones6955]

Fun,friends,games,dance Alex he is cute

[@WienerVL]

I love what you do for DJ! Best mom he can have!

[@jude1515]

Beautiful story.

[@LivingDead53]

Everyone got mad at her because she's super smart or was but very strange and seemingly self-centered. She has the emotional understanding of like a 10-year-old. I don't know what happened to her. Nobody else on that side is like that.

[@deborahfrazier5122]

You have touch my heart bravo i say to you

[@lianaacca9550]

Uno straordinario esempio d' amore e profondo rispetto per la vita.

[@LivingDead53]

They're like, "She's like a child." Not really. She just doesn't understand. She's different. My other grandparents let her do things they shouldn't have and didn't guide her, let her get married to my scumbag dad at 16. Everyone hates her, so they kept destroying her. Well, my siblings have mixed feelings. I love her.

[@corporatecondocollection370]

Please her heart 💕

[@purplehooks1994]

That is sweet

[@IraQNid]

I wonder if DJ has a crush on his caregivers at Sunny Side Too? What was DJ's story before he arrived with his adoptive Mother? How was he treated?

[@berled5990]

I would like to meet you. Wow!

[@lovebird28jayparkwifey81]

How is DJ doing today

[@kthiggemjones6955]

The interviewer looks like a actor i cant place a name to

[@vihaze6725]

Ugh, I could have done without the pro-life bullshit. I'd rather just focus on the story of the kind woman who is compassionately caring for a disabled child, instead of having someone's right-wing, conservative agenda shoved down my throat.

[@shauntelcampos3212]

This is a Pro-Life channel so...

[@SoCali_Surfer]

Vi Haze A human life is from womb to tomb. It's too bad people like to identify this as a right wing agenda or that a woman can do what she wants with her body. What about the other human in her womb? Babies, born and yet to be born literally have NO voice! No voice=no rights to many people. Very sad.

[@sissyrayself7508]

Vi Haze well, this is a pro life site.. so get over it.

[@simples5580]

'He's very bright' ?! You mad my border collie dog sitting next to me here way more intelligent him

[@tobiasharris361]

Sim Ples you mean ''You made'' and '' sitting next to me look more intelligent than him!''