This is one of the reasons why I want to adopt teenagers out of foster care.

“I actually wonder… Who wouldn’t want to call me ‘son’ now?” 🥺😭 Every kid deserves to have a family!

This gets me every time. Every single time. It is a basic, human right for children to have childhoods. and Who wouldn't want to call me son, now?

I am a single mom and when I have gotten my last child through high school ( he’s a sophomore) I am going to foster and hopefully adopt some teenagers. No one deserves to go through life alone. No one!

Make me even more proud of my son for adopting my wonderful grandson! :)

I too am a a person who aged out of the system. I am encouraged by your story and will use it often in my work. Thank you for such a wonderful gift.

I don't think one could recommend this video too highly. Shane's capacity to reflect on his experiences and talk about them so powerfully is very impressive.

Uh-uh-uh-unbelievable............. I'm heading down to my local foster care agency FIRST THING Monday morning to become a mentor.

He is the epitome of reflection.

LOVING families....all foster/adoptive kids had families.... most of us just never got LOVING families....

I'm genuinely so proud of him and his accomplishments. Made me tear up a bit.

What a sweet and humble man! I'd be proud to have a son like you.

So very sad. I wish people who have the means would start taking these kids in and adopting them. I would if I wasn't dirt poor with health issues. But there are a lot of healthy, younger people who could fill their house with them instead of producing their natural born kids.

Wow! Shane’s story is amazing! To achieve such success despite overwhelming odds is so rare. Of course anyone would be proud to call him their son.

Beautiful! He’s an amazing person.

Thanks for this post! God has a major work for you!

You are a genius. Had I heard your vocabulary at that age, I would have snatched you up right away.

I can hear the sadness in your voice. You are enough. I am so proud of what you have accomplished in your life. Many people would be proud to have a son so caring & good as you. You are doing good works.

my brother from the same struggle! God bless u and all my foster care siblings! continue to share ur story....

A great, heartwrenching video. He should be very proud of himself and of all his accomplishments.

Leaves you speechless, for all the right reasons.

I am sorry for the pain and sadness you carry, but truly…i am floored with how you have found a way to use that weight as an anchor to a successful and beautiful life, a life that you are fully driving. You gave a stranger a proud and true smile Shane. Your good stuff.

Kids who disrespect and take their parents for granted should watch these videos. Videos by people who longed for families and a permanent place to call home.

Shane. Your story really touched me man. The way you handle yourself with dignity. please never feel less than, i would love to get to know you so if ever in london look me up. you come across so humble,educated and human. Grieve for the little boy inside but don't forget the man you have become. I'm very aware of how this lifestyle effects people and you so humbly and gracefully expressed yourself. you've a lot of love to give i can see/feel it when you talk. Your a beautiful human being. I'd of loved to have had you as a brother. respectfully, Dan

What a beautiful story that could have turned out so diferently. I would adopt him in a heartbeat. What a sweetheart!

This is Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Listening to Shane is like hearing my own story as a former foster child in the foster care system, and someone who was adopted. 😔🙇🏽And not having any parents, there are scars and wounds I still feel to this day... Especially around this time of the year the holidays make it more lonesome at times...Made me tear up.😢

Oh, Shane, what an amazing young man you have become! Yes, who indeed would NOT be proud to call you son. In fact, is it too late? I'm really quite serious. I would LOVE to be your mom. I am currently in training to become a CASA. I feel I should have fostered/adopted many years ago (I did adopt one, but should have adopted more), but I can only start here and not in the past. Thank you for sharing your story, Shane. It has impacted me. And PLEASE, if you would consider adopting me as mom, get in touch!

Shane you are a strong and amazing yet humble and eloquent individual. You make me proud and I have never met you- thank you for your bravery and strength.

Working as I do in a Children's Home in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and fostering a child (adoption is extremely difficult here) and feeling blessed every day, I hope Shane's story will speak to people unsure of whether or not to take on the responsibility of a child and DO IT!

breaks my heart. This is one of the reasons I'm adopting older children.

I AM SO MOTIVATED BY THIS MAN....... WOULD LOVE TO MET HIM OR SOMETHING.... SOMETIMES I WISH I HAD A MENTOR WHO WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND MADE IT OUT... IVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE..

I never comment on youtube videos, but this video really touched me i am a mom of 3 boys and i can only imagine the loneliness, and pain you felt growing up. I am proud of you shane, and i would be so happy to have a son like you. I hope that today in your life you found good loving people to share your life with.

What an Owesome testimony! Foster kids out there...never give up on dreams, because dreams certainly do come true....may God bless you brother!

someone that knows how i feel.. we share the same pain...

very moving, really brought tears to my eyes. He is an impresive human being.

OMG I'M IN SUCH TEARS!!! I FEEL LIKE I'M THE FEMALE AND YOUNGER VERSION OF SHANE....I WAS FOSTER CARE FROM 1 TO 12. THEN I MOVED BACK IN WITH MY MOTHER.. I WAS TAKE AWAY BECAUSE SHE HAS AN ALCOHOL PROBLEM.... I WAS PLACED IN 3 HOMES.... FOR THE AGES TO 12-18 I LIVED WITH HER AND SHE STILL STRUGGLED WITH ALCOHOLISM .... I DEALT WITH ALOT.. BUT I WAS ALSO VALEDICTORIAN OF MY CLASS AND NOW I'M A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE . ALSO A SINGERSONGWRITER BREAKING INTO THE MUSIC BUISNESS! DETERMINED TO SUCCEED

You fought through such diversity and became an amazing person! You accomplished what so many foster children strive for. You are and excellent example of faith and hope! I'm sure there would be many people out there that would love to call you son!! And you have a heart of gold to go out there and help the children that are in the same situation that you were. You give the hope that there is a better life and a better path! God bless

beautiful outcome, proud of you, sir

One of the most moving stories I have ever heard. Shane, you are an incredible individual. *tear*

God bless you.

Shane, you are amazing and yes anyone would be proud to call you son. Thanks for telling your story and for your great strength in overcoming such adversity in your life...thank you for being a child advocate...it's so needed as you very well know...God bless you...

Thank you so much Shane! You are truly a blessing!

Shane - I hate you did not have that happy ever after family story. The sad part is people don't appreciate the families they have....

Thank you for sharing your story, Shane. Like so many others, I would have been proud to be your mom. It saddens me that there were families that wanted you and would have loved you with every ounce of their souls, but for discrimination, recrimination, the passing of false judgements. In this world, there is so much needless hurt, but we keep going on, making a better day, loving as we should--living as we should, sharing as we should. After all you have been through, I hope you know now that you have nothing to prove--you are a beautiful person whether you are running a corporation or digging a ditch. You deserved a (safe) home then and now.

one word: wow. that was powerful.

I was a child who aged out of foster care. Now age 38. I finally got my own home had a beautiful baby girl. It’s a miracle beyond belief I didn’t end up in prison or dead. I did things to survive I wouldn’t admit on the internet. All the way to criminal activity and beyond. I was so depressed throughout my twenties I swallowed my self in addition a self hatred towards myself believing I wasn’t good enough. Attempted suicide multiple of times. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough! Lmfao! I have felt like I wasn’t good enough for so long I can’t remember. I also remember being strung through so many foster homes. 29 different schools. I got to a point in my foster care days. I wouldn’t even try an make friends cause I knew I would be gone somewhere else at any minute. I’ve tried so hard to be a good human being that now with trust issues. I’m not even sure who I am anymore. Either way I love this video a the dude in it was a fantastic inspiration. I have been through everything than man has said. I honestly wish I would’ve found this video yrs ago. God truly loves u

Wow, thank you for sharing your soul. You have touched mine.

Wow well done anyone would bee proud of calling you their son😍 The way you said the ending was too emotional

You are an amazing man

Wow! God bless you Shane ! Such innocent suffering but what courage and virtues you possess . Thank you for telling us your story .

Yes. A wonderful video.

God bless Shane always.

Wow! Speechless

You brought tears to my eyes and a pain in my heart. I worked with so many young women that had to for reasons of addiction give up their children. I know their side too. They Love their children, it sounds insane I know and it took me many years to understand. These beautiful babies were products of a way of life that most have no clue. I don't know how, I just know that we have to start fixing this problem. As our poverty rate goes up we are going to see more homeless and addicted people.

Wow this is an eye opener. Im proud of you.God bless you and may you also be a blessing to other kids as well. Thanks for sharing.

You are an inspiration.

Remember God our father is happy he has someone like you as his son, you've come along way and I know your gonna be an amazing father one day. GOD BLESS YOU 🤗

THAT was intense! God BLess you!

Awesomely Amazing!!!!!

Thank you Mark....from the bottom of my heart...so many older adoptees get thrown to the wolves....

Your resilience and fortitude is inspiring Shane! You are an amazing person. You will be an amazing father some day - then you will finally have your beautiful family. Save hope.

I would definitely adopt an older child but CPS is terrible. They mistreat families.

How canI get ahold of Shane? I have never in all my life ever encountered someone like me, in so many ways. It would be amazing to chat with him!

Amazing story. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and I am very proud to have you as my brother Shane! Seeing your video makes me want to adopt in the near future.

Hope he stopped lying and stealing!!!

We'd give anything to adopt a teen aging out of the Foster Care System. We'd love to give have adult children. How do we even begin this process? Our state requires the adult be between 18-21. Please pray for us :)

I'm so proud of you thank you we are going to foster care children and then adopt from the reservation in sells

my husband and I are planning in the future to foster a child we want to wait until we have another room so they can have their own room. a lot of my friends growing up were foster children. I have wanted to be a foster mother for a long time and I can't wait until we are able to foster a child. My best friend was split up from 2 of her sisters and was very lucky to live in a foster home with her sister. I can't wait to foster a child!

Shane, "Phone Home!!!" *o*

Wooowww!!!!!

❤😢

That's sad!

Is there a way to contact Shane for his input on a project that I am planning for youth aging out of the foster care system?

I don't even believe in God, but bless you! ♥

Shane, Have you found your mentor/big brother/role model? I pray that you will build spiritual, loving relationships that fill the void.

Ah!!!

How do we get in contact with Shane?

my my my so much pain in his heart, please think about your children before you have them love them give them a chance, if u can't take care of them it's ok to give them up, but not ok to visit them, and let them know you love them PLEASE. SO MUCH HURT/

@pajamasmith GOOD MAN

smh 😥

You have a Heavenly Father who loves you, and before you was in your mothers wound He knew the ups and downs you would go through....if you look back hopefully you will see "Grace" Undeserved Favor..God and Christ took your ugly past and made you into the young man you are today. I hope you will except Jesus as Lord and get baptized. Study the king James version Bible. "You should know the "Truth" and the "Truth" SHALL SET YOU FREE.." MAY YOU LIVE LONG AND PROSPER IN JESUS NAME ..PLEASE GET BORN AGAIN IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY..."PEACE" "God Bless You"

hello

ah

He was failed.