LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - It is never too late for someone to join a family.
Though most people think of babies when they think about adoption, there are hundreds of teenagers who wait for a family.
A lot of them, like 15-year old Lathanual, who have been in foster care a considerable length of time and have faced great loss. So, we’re sharing the story of this boy who needs a place to call home.
"First, I wanna try the Arkansas mud, it's actually pretty good I think I might get that," he said. The THV11 team took him to Loblolly. Outside in the beautiful sunshine, eating ice cream which turned into a sidewalk stroll and a talk about Lathanual’s passion Because ice cream wasn’t part of the original plan.
"Steph Curry KD, Lebron, Kyrie," said Lathanual. “I'm 15, I love to play basketball, my favorite color is blue." We were supposed to be playing basketball for this shoot, but he had a broken finger and was wearing a splint. "When this finger heals, and I get this thing off I will be back on the court a lot more," he said.
We also noticed him wearing a bracelet, it says keep a clear mind.
"Don't have a negative mind, have a positive mind and think about positive stuff throughout the future," said Lathanual.
There's plenty he could be negative about, after five years as a foster child. But he's ready now to look ahead and ready to embrace the idea of what family means. "That you have someone keeping a roof over your head, putting clothes on your back, feeding you, bathing you, keeping a close eye on you, that's what it means to me," he added. "I'm a Christian, I'd love to be baptized and I'd love to go to church.”
Lathanual is a positive person and a really good kid.
Thanks to Loblolly for the scoops of ice cream! Lathanual also shared he loves pizza and salad and his favorite school subjects are PE and Biology.
If you'd like to learn more about him or any child we've featured, click here.