Wednesday's Child: 'My dad went to prison and my mom couldn't take care of us'


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SALT LAKE CITY — Alex is a 15-year-old boy with a love of photography. On Wednesday, he became the subject.

"I'm a little nervous," said Alex, as he had his portrait taken at Nichols Photo Lab in Salt Lake City.

"I always use this face to make people laugh," Alex said as he posed for the camera.

However, the boy who loves cameras wasn't content to just sit in front of one. Alex got a tour of the photo facility. It was a chance to ask any questions he wanted and learn more about the craft he's so interested in.

It's not often Alex is the focus of attention.

"I've never done something like this before," he said.

What Alex is referring to is telling his story on KSL TV and revealing the most personal parts of his life to a total stranger.

"My dad went to prison for something he did and my mom couldn't take care of us, so she had to put us in the system," he said.

Alex has lived in foster care for years.

"The first (foster home) I went to I didn't like," he said. "The second one, me and my sisters and brother had to be down in the basement locked up."

For him, the perfect family was nowhere to be found, and a perfect family photo is not even a thought.

Alex was asked if he thinks he will ever get adopted.

"No, not really," Alex said with a shrug. "We already tried."

He says he's been trying for years but will continue to try.

"(I will keep trying) so I can finally be in a family with a nice mom and dad," he said.

To learn more about Alex or the many other children lingering in the Utah Foster Care system, contact The Adoption Exchange at 801-264-0444.

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Ashley Kewish

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