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SALT LAKE CITY — The preteen years can be a trying time for any child, but throw in living in foster care and it's especially difficult.
Dominick is a 12-year-old boy who thrives on activity, staying busy and one more thing: hope.
"I'm getting adopted," Dominick said to the go-kart operator at Boondocks Fun Center as he buckled his seat belt.
On Wednesday, he let everyone know.
"I'm a lucky boy," he said to another employee.
He says he feels lucky because he's finally getting the chance to tell his story for the first time.
"You would think a normal kid would want candy and toys," he said. "I would rather have a family. I need a family."
The seventh-grader loves his Xbox but says he would give it all to have a home he can call his own.
"Right now, I'm in group home," he explained.
But before the group home, there were others.
"Eight homes, including this one," he said, after counting on his fingers.
But even those eight moves pale in comparison with what he calls the hardest thing he's ever been through.
You would think a normal kid would want candy and toys. I would rather have a family. I need a family.
–Dominick
"When my brother died," he said. "He died a while ago."
Although a piece of his heart will always long for his brother, his heart is open to a family that will welcome him in.
"If you love me, I will love you," he said.
To learn more about Dominick, contact The Adoption Exchange.
