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Tristan tries to reel in his perfect catch, a forever family

This week, we share a teenage boy's plea with you, a plea for a family to bring him home.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- November is National Adoption Month, and THV11 is partnered with the Arkansas Department of Human Services to help find placement for the hundreds of children without a place to call home.

This week, we share a teenage boy's plea with you, a plea for a family to bring him home.

"Every day," 14-year-old Tristan said.

Every day, he thinks about his birth family.

"If I could just say one more thing to my family,” he said. "I love you and I really miss you. Yeah, it's kind of making me sad right now."

But this day, with each fishing line cast, with each fish hook loaded, it’s a moment to forget his three years in foster care and the abandonment he experienced.

"It's amazing. I enjoy it,” Tristan shared. “It's been awhile since I fished, and I'm grateful for it."

Tristan prays he reels in something big. Sure, he wants a fish, but what this teenager dreams of is really much bigger than that.

"A family that will love me, care for me, do anything for me, will be there for me, and that's what I would really love," Tristan said.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Trey Reid is Tristan’s fishing guide.

"I'm gonna show you the one I like ok,” Reid said, describing a knot. “It's called a uni-knot so you make a loop right there."

But it’s clear this patient 9th-grader doesn’t need much guidance.

"You have to be patient and focus, and most of the time when you're fishing,” Tristan shared. “You don't just wanna pull it in right when it's bobbing, you wanna pull it in when it starts running a little bit and goes under at the same time."

And a few times, he thought he had the big one on the line. But the fish seemed to be hiding. So while we wait, Tristan told us he loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian, and then talks about the kind of family he wants.

"The family that I think I would have would be if they lived on a ranch or something, and they had animals, horses and they would let me get my own animal," he said.

And then, just like that, Tristan gets his own fish.

"Yea I got him, yes, yes, alright!" he exclaimed.

Nothing too big, but just enough for Tristan, who, next up, hopes to reel in a family.

"I pray that I get adopted but if I don't, God has a reason for it," Tristan said. "I don't care who you are or what you look like. If you adopt me and care for me and love me, I'll do anything for you. I will love you back, I'll be a really good foster kid, or adopted kid because I really want a family."

Big thanks to Trey Reid and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for the fishing trip. And thanks to Tristan for opening up and sharing so much with us.

If you would like information about Tristan or any state foster child up for adoption, head to the Arkansas Heart Gallery.

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