TAMPA, Fla. — Kadesha Stewart knew one thing her whole life.

“I always wanted five children,” said Stewart.

She had a son, LaShawn. But that was it. In her heart and in her home in Tampa, she never stopped yearning for more little feet.

What You Need To Know

Kadesha Stewart is an adoptive mom of 4 kids that she previously fostered, and three of them have special medical needs

She is a specialized medical foster parent through Children’s Home Network, and has received training and a special license to care for kids at their most vulnerable, whose birth parents cannot care for them

After helping over 30 kids, Kadesha closed her foster home to new fosters when she adopted her fourth child, but is now getting re-licensed through CHN and is reopening her home for more medical foster children

Medical foster parent(s) are needed. To learn how to become one, join a virtual information session with the Children’s Home Network

She decided to become a foster parent, and through her training decided she would be a medical foster parent.

“These babies, they need more than just medication. They need love. They need stability,” said Stewart. “And they just need someone who can have the patience to care for them.”

She went through training and opened her home. It quickly began to fill.

With foster care, reunification with the child’s biological family is always the goal. But in some cases, that doesn’t work out.

So Stewart became mother to more than one, adopting Teryonna first. Then, she adopted Lucas. Then Emma.

“Then the opportunity comes for you to adopt now your fourth child, and your answer is?” asked Spectrum Bay News 9 anchor Erin Murray.

“Yes,” said Stewart with a huge smile.

Graciyanna became adoption number four.

In total, Stewart has fostered more than 30 kids — most with medical needs.

With LaShawn, Teryonna, Lucas, Emma and Graciyanna, Stewart’s dream is now complete. She is the mother of five children.

“So five is enough for me because, you know, it’s just me,” said Stewart with a smile.

Or that is what she thought.

“If I have the space and the help, which is my mom, to do it, you know, I just want to continue to be a blessing to a child,” said Stewart.

Fostering is part of her purpose, she said.

The Children’s Home Network hopes more people will consider becoming medical foster families.

“In Hillsborough County, there’s only about 15 medical foster homes,” said Paul Penhale, Out-of-Home Care Senior Director, Children’s Home Network in Tampa. “It’s never enough, right? We’re actively recruiting.”

Penhale said while they are making it work with those 15 families in Hillsborough, Children’s Home Network is always looking for the next generation of foster moms and dads.

“We believe that regardless of the child’s medical condition, they still deserve to be in a family-like setting. They don’t need to be in the hospital if they’re medically ready for discharge. But they do need more than a traditional foster parent can provide care,” said Penhale.

Stewart hopes others will see her family and give fostering a chance.

“These children need a home, and it would be a blessing for more families to open their home to medical children,” said Stewart.

A full home that always has room for one more foster child.

“I’m not going to say no,” said Stewart.

Children’s Home Network said all medical foster parents are given medical training and they have a team of resources available to help them 24/7.