A Virginia mother, Carla Johnson, has exemplified true friendship by stepping up to care for her late best friend’s six children after her friend lost her battle with cancer. Carla’s childhood friend, Lisa Thompson, passed away from breast cancer in May, a disease she had bravely fought before, but this time it had aggressively metastasized to her spine and brain.
The two women had rekindled their friendship after reconnecting as teenagers while working at a local store. As Lisa’s health declined, her children grew close to Carla and her own three kids. “I spent a lot of time with them, often bringing my kids along,” Carla recounted. With Lisa’s children’s fathers absent, she eventually turned to Carla and asked if she would be willing to take on the immense responsibility of raising her six kids if she didn’t make it.
Carla tried to maintain a positive attitude, often deflecting Lisa’s fears with humor. “I kept saying, ‘You’re going to get better, and we’ll raise our grandkids together,’” she recalled. However, the gravity of the situation soon became apparent. Lisa asked Carla directly, “Can you do this? I know you can, but can you really manage nine kids?”
After discussing it with her husband and children, Carla’s family was on board. “My kids were shouting ‘Yes!’ They were excited about having their best friends become part of our family,” she said. While caring for nine children is no small feat, Carla was determined to honor her friend’s wishes and keep the children together.
Reflecting on her journey, Carla noted how much she has changed. “I’ve learned not to sweat the small stuff anymore—messy houses and piles of laundry are nothing compared to what Lisa would give to have her kids here,” she shared. She hopes their story inspires others to consider opening their homes to children in need. “If I can take in nine, maybe someone else can take in two,” she suggested.
Recently, Carla and her family received permanent custody of Lisa’s children, allowing them to begin the next chapter of their lives together. “We’re all relieved this is settled, and we can start finding our ‘new normal’ as a larger family,” she said. A GoFundMe campaign has also been established, which has successfully raised over $65,000 to support the children.
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In summary, Carla Johnson’s act of love and commitment to her late friend’s children showcases the strength of friendship and the importance of family bonds. Her story serves as an inspiration for others to potentially open their hearts and homes to children in need.