One-of-a-kind child finds success in an amazing family

Christopher looks like any other little boy, running with his foster brother from the school bus on a beeline to the play area by their house on a sunny spring day.

But he isn't. Christopher was born with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH), a rare metabolic disorder that causes varying degrees of mental retardation and is often fatal. Due to the lack of early treatment in Chris' case, doctors predicted that he wouldn't live much past his fourth birthday.

Complicating matters, Chris is autistic, does not speak and has a sensory disorder that compels him to chew on objects.

His mother had struggled to care for Christopher on her own but couldn't continue. She was afraid he would have to go to an institution.

Instead, Christopher was referred to the Youth Villages Foster Care Program and foster parents Linda and Andy Dillard.

Mrs. Dillard, her twin sister, Donna Goad, both nurses, and their mother have cared for medically fragile and terminally ill children many times in more than 30 years of foster parenting.

"Christopher is the most challenging child we have helped in all those years," Mrs. Dillard says. "But he's come so far. It's very rewarding to be able to help a child who has such great need."

Progress for Christopher has come in little steps. He's beginning to learn sign language and can sign "more" and "eat." He is reaching out emotionally, even giving hugs now. Christopher recently celebrated his 8th birthday.

"You want every day to count with children like Christopher," Mrs. Dillard says. "He deserves more hugs and every bit of hope and joy that can be created for him."