Oklahoma 17-year-old makes heartfelt plea to be adopted before he ages out of foster care: 'Anyone that would take me'
A 17-year-old boy from Oklahoma City has made a heartwarming plea to find a family he can call his own after spending the last five years in foster care.
The minor, identified only as Haven, will turn 18 in October—meaning he will be left to fend for himself if he isn't adopted by a family before aging out of the system, Daily Mail reports.
When asked what kind of family he wishes to become a part of, he responded saying he doesn't "really care".
"Anyone that would take me. I don't really care," he said, adding, "As long as it’s a family that will show love for me and be there for me."
Speaking to KFOR Oklahoma's News Channel 4, Haven said he is losing hope that he will be able to find a family to support him before he reaches adulthood.
While he is admittedly feeling numb, he still dreams of having "someone to help you, like be there for you if you need help."
"Not just going into it all blind because that's how you get into drugs and bad stuff like that," he told the local outlet.
Haven was only 12 when the Oklahoma Department of Humans Services took him in custody.
He spoke of his life in the shelter, which he shares with four other children.
"It gets old at times. Just being there. Not being able to go out whenever I want," he said.
Haven enjoys video games like Minecraft and hanging out with his pals—just like a regular teenager.
Also, he aspires to join the military someday, as it would involve "being a part of something bigger than myself and serving my country."
"I'm involved with Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, AKA JROTC," he told KFOR. "I'd probably like to travel the world with the army," the embattled teen said, eager for more independence.
According to him, he would start to feel more confident and independent if he gets a driver's license.
Haven has a profile in the Oklahoma Heart Gallery, where he has posted a message saying, "Please adopt me—I’m pretty cool." The organization helps recruit potential adoptive families for children who are waiting in line.
The website lists Haven's favorite sport as paintball, and describes him as "very talented at electronics, and enjoys being on YouTube and making his own videos and games."
The teenager loves to stay in the city as "there's a lot to do, explore, get a little lost to have an adventure."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to 'Help Haven Get On His Feet'.
"My hope is that someone in Oklahoma City takes him up on this request, but in the event that doesn't happen, he'll need money to assimilate into adult life," the creator of the page wrote.
Oklahoma has at least 500 children waiting to be adopted on any given day, per the Oklahoma Heart Gallery.
For more information on adopting Haven, you can get in touch with Tom Peterson at (405) 325 9398.