An Iowa couple who lost two biological children celebrated an incredible milestone recently: they welcomed their 100th foster child into their home.
Deb Schuring lost her first child on Mother’s Day 1982. Baby girl Andrea had high cheekbones and looked just like Deb’s husband, Mike Schuring.
But tragically, Andrea was born three months premature, and at weighing only one pound, she died that day.
One year later, Deb went into labor three months early again and gave birth to David – a blonde baby boy who looked just like her. He died three days later.
The Schurings ended up having two additional children of their own, but that didn’t stop them from taking in children in need.
It all started at church. The preacher’s daughter asked if the Schurings would be interested in attending a seminar on fostering children. Deb agreed, but she didn’t expect to get anything out of it. Soon after, they were certified to take in foster children.
The number of children the Schurings have fostered – with the help of their children Alex and Sarah – is now at three digits.
Deb insists they’re not aiming for any sort of record. And they’re certainly not in it for the money — the family earns about $15.78 per day to care for the children.
Photos of each child go into a photo album they called “the book of babies.” The children they foster aren’t typically with them for very long, with 71% eventually reuniting with their biological families.