By April Estrada | March 25, 2026
When Robert and Hannah Leslie heard the message at their church about the need for foster families, they didn’t exchange a long list of reasons to wait or think about it later. Instead, they looked at each other and felt the same stirring – this is our call.
They didn’t know who would one day walk through their front door. They didn’t know what challenges might come. What they did know was that there was a child somewhere who needed safety, stability, and a family willing to show up. And so, they said yes.
Robert and Hannah were approved on December 2, 2024. On December 23, just two days before Christmas, they opened their door to a tiny, four-year-old boy. From the day he arrived, the Leslies embraced him fully, treating him not as a placement but as one of their own.
Slowly, the Leslies became his people. Their support extends beyond their home. Hannah’s mother regularly travels from North Carolina to help care for this child, wrapping him in even more family connection and stability. Hannah herself is now coaching his basketball team, cheering him on from the sidelines, and pouring into his growth both on and off the court.
The Leslies also make intentional space for sibling bonds, scheduling fun outings with the child and his sisters to ensure those relationships stay strong. Their love doesn’t stop with the child in their home – they stand ready to welcome his sibling, should the need arise.
Even as new foster parents, Robert and Hannah quickly discovered the realities many families face: delayed communication, conflicting information, and system challenges that can be both frustrating and disheartening. But rather than step back, they stepped forward. They asked questions. They persisted. They pushed for what the child needed, even when doing so required patience and grit they didn’t know they had.
Robert and Hannah don’t just provide care for this now almost 6-year-old boy; they advocate fiercely for him. They celebrate every small victory and cheer through the hard days, too, offering calm in moments when the world feels uncertain.
Their story reminds us that foster care is not just a system; it is people. People like Robert and Hannah, whose “yes” changes a life forever. Thank you, Robert and Hannah, for answering the call.