I first heard about the hospice mom, Cori Salchert, almost two years ago, and learned the incredible story of how she and her husband Mark, who have eight biological children also foster and adopt terminally ill babies.
Cori used to be a perinatal bereavement nurse and even though she’s left that work professionally, she carries it out every day and her home. Babies who are in “hospice” typically come from families who can’t deal with the condition their child was born with and don’t want to see their child die. Cori and her family accept the privilege of caring for these children as well as the grief that comes with their deaths. Theirs is a strength and a love that truly surpasses understanding.
I now find myself telling you about this remarkable family again, because once again their boundless love is making headlines. Recently, instead of an ill infant, the Salcherts have adopted a terminally ill teen boy. The child had lived most of his life in the hospital and had the nickname “T Bear,” but Cori and Mark renamed him Samuel after his adoption.
TODAY Parents spoke to the family about this remarkable act of love and reports that Samuel “was born with leukodystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes the brain to degenerate.”
Cori first learned of T Bear over two years ago, but was not able to foster him at the time because of other fostering assignments. However, as soon as room became available in their home, the Salcherts asked to become his foster parents. They typically only fostered and adopted very small children and T Bear was 13 years old, but Cori felt strongly that he was supposed to be theirs.
