GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — He has one of the biggest and brightest smiles you've ever seen despite being in foster care for 10 years.
Today's Wednesday's Child is 14-year-old Cameron.
Child Protective Services showed us a picture of him when he was 4 years old. He had just entered foster care, yet he stood there in the picture with a beaming smile. Fast forward ten years and Cameron is still smiling.
"I'm feeling great today," he told us when WFAA met him at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games in Grand Prairie.
When asked to describe himself Cameron said," Brave. Happy. Curious. I'm always nosy."
For a kid who likes excitement at every turn, Andretti is the kind of place he wants to visit with a forever family who intentionally speaks life over him.
"I love you. That's what I would love to hear, mostly from anyone," he said.
Iris Burkett is Cameron's caseworker.
"It's a long time. It's a long time," Burkett said. "He needs a family. A forever family."
Burkett described how much Cameron's smile cheers her up every time she sees him.
"It's contagious. It'll steal your heart the first time he looks at you and smiles," she said.
Burkett admits Cameron is one of her favorites because of his great personality.
"Cameron is a very social person. He likes to be the center of attention and he likes to joke, he likes to be outside, ride his bike, and play video games. A typical 14-year-old boy."
What's not typical is how long Cameron has endured foster care with a spirit of hope.
"I just keep telling him his family's coming," Burkett said.
She says Cameron would thrive in a home with certain qualities.
"Preferably, he needs to be the younger child or the only child. They need to be very patient, and maybe have some trauma training because Cameron has been through some trauma and loving. He needs unconditional love. He just needs a family to love him," Burkett said.
After a lifetime of sometimes feeling forgotten, Cameron prays for a family who will help him to heal and who will always be there.
"My desire is to have a parent that cares and loves me," Cameron said.
For more information on how to adopt Cameron, contact the Heart Gallery of North Texas at 817-809-3440 or email them at hello@heartgallerynorthtexas.org. Please include Cameron's name in the subject line.
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