A mum who has fostered 27 children with her husband over 18 years says she "never looked back" on her decision.
Londoner Afia Choudhury said her foster children still regularly visit and stay over in the holidays - and she is “proud of the difference made to their lives”.
The foster children are like "siblings" with her own four biological sons, Afia explained, and have attended their weddings, according to the Metro.
"The biggest challenge I have faced is the constant juggle of caring for my birth children and the children I foster, and prioritising all of their needs," she wrote.
"That said, it is so rewarding and the decision to continue fostering has always been made with the entire family.
"It’s as much a part of their lives as it is mine."
One of Afia's first fostering experiences began when she was asked to care for a baby born nine weeks premature.
Both of his parents were living with HIV and there was a possibility the baby also had the virus.
He had spent three weeks in hospital.
"In an instant, I agreed – after all, that is the reason I became a foster carer," Afia wrote in Metro.
"For over 17 months, myself and my family looked after this baby and he stole our hearts completely.
"While he brought us complete joy and I wanted him to become a permanent part of our family, my wise husband reminded me that we had been blessed with four beautiful boys of our own, and we should give a loving couple the chance to become parents."
The baby is now a teenager and living with his adopted family, but Afia and her husband are still in regular contact with him.
Afia was 29 and pregnant with her third son when she began the fostering assessment process.
She was first introduced to the idea when her mum's neighbour fostered two Bengali children.
She added: "When I went round to drop off the food, I met the two children and couldn’t get them out of my mind.
"I decided to research fostering and find out why children come into care."
Afia said fostering has been a "family decision" and her children have "always welcomed" other children into the home.
Over almost two decades Afia has fostered a number of young siblings - one as young as 10 weeks old.
Some have stayed with her for a number of years before many return to live back with their biological parents.
She wrote: "I became part of the support network for them, and to this day they come to see us regularly and stay over in the holidays.
"As a family, we were able to support them and help with a smooth transition back to their parents."
Afia said she is still caring for two siblings out of three that she took in eight years ago.
The eldest moved back in with his parents after living with Afia for 11 years.
"The things us foster carers are able to do – such as maintaining links with the important people in the children’s lives – are not just beneficial for them, but us too," she wrote.
"It’s the most rewarding thing I have done and has connected me to so many networks in my community, including meeting and mentoring other foster carers."
Afia now also spends her time mentoring other foster carers.
She has already mentored around 20 individuals.
They are "matched" with her once approved and she supports them for the first six months of their journey, she said.
She added: "I hold their hand throughout the process, answering any questions they have and being at the end of the phone or there for a coffee whenever they need me."
Afia urged anyone who is interested in fostering a child to do some research and act on it.
She said: "If you are currently like I was 18 years ago and considering fostering, I urge you to speak to your local fostering service – you really could make the world of difference."
