A couple from West Sussex, England, have finally thrown in the foster towel, after caring for 620 foster children in 56 years.
Pauline, 81, and Roger Fitter, 86, welcomed children of all ages, including babies, teenagers and everyone, from as far away as Belarus and Lithuania, along with raising five children of their own in a foster home. four bedrooms. this year when they “retired.”
The assemblers ’house is now quiet for the first time in decades. A pond is located at the end of the garden instead of a trampoline, swings and slides.
Pauline told the Mirror that she kept photos and birthday records of all her foster children, remembering all the names, and that she considered all foster children to be as important as her own.
“Every child leaves their mark,” Pauline said. “They lived as part of the family. If we have done our job well, they will continue with a new life and they do not need us. A few send us Christmas postcards. We liked it and we loved all our kids, but you know you have to let them go. “
A second shower and sink cut long bath queues while serving the same dishes at all meals. Discipline was usually done with a simple downtime.
Pauline, who used to work as a nurse, always wanted to help children.
The couple married in 1965 and took in their first child, a baby, later that same year.
But they would continue to have another 619 newcomers.
Most of the children who have been cared for at the same time were 11, who were part of it. They set up tents to squeeze them all out.
“A guy who was about 13 when he left us somehow remembered two years later that it was going to be our silver wedding anniversary and he came with his parents to see us,” Pauline said.
“We couldn’t believe he remembered it and it surprised us.”