In Los Angeles County, a remarkable foster dad named Ahmed Bzeek has made it his mission to care for terminally ill children. For over 20 years, Bzeek has provided love and support to more than 10 children as they navigate their final days. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services oversees 35,000 children in foster care, with 6,000 requiring specialized medical management for serious health conditions, according to reports.
“When we receive a call about a child needing hospice care, there’s only one person we think of,” stated Jessica Rivers, an intake coordinator at DCFS. “He’s the only one willing to accept children who may not survive.” Most of these vulnerable kids are usually placed in medical facilities or with trained nursing staff who become their foster parents.
Currently, Bzeek is caring for a 6-year-old girl named Lily who suffers from encephalocele, a rare brain malformation. Lily is blind, deaf, paralyzed in her limbs, and experiences daily seizures. “I understand she can’t hear or see, but I talk to her all the time,” Bzeek shared. “She has emotions, she has a soul; she is a human being.” He has been her foster parent since she was just a month old and had previously cared for three other children with the same condition. “For these kids, it’s like a life sentence,” he added.
Aside from attending church and hospital visits, the 62-year-old Libyan-born Muslim rarely leaves his home. Although their lives revolve around managing medical needs, they recently celebrated Lily’s sixth birthday with a cheesecake and candles. Dressed in a red dress and matching socks, Lily’s special day was filled with joy as Bzeek cheered, “Yay! You are 6! 6! 6!”
Ahmed Bzeek came to the United States as a college student in 1978 and eventually met a woman named Karen, who inspired him to become a foster parent. In 1989, they opened their hearts and home to sick children and have continued this noble path ever since. Tragically, their first foster child passed away in 1991 due to a spinal disorder before reaching her first birthday. “That loss impacted me deeply,” he recalled, showing reporters a photo of the child.
In the mid-1990s, the couple decided to focus specifically on terminally ill children, as many other foster families shied away from them. They welcomed their biological son, Ethan, in 1997. Ethan was born with brittle bone disease and dwarfism, but Bzeek embraced his son’s uniqueness: “That’s how God made him.”
“I love my sister,” Ethan, now 19 and weighing around 65 pounds, said about Lily. He often uses a custom skateboard made from an ironing board to move around the house easily. Bzeek explained that they have always been open with Ethan about his siblings’ illnesses, viewing death as a natural part of life.
The family faced challenges when Karen fell ill in 2000 and suffered from severe seizures. Their marriage ultimately ended in 2013, followed by Karen’s passing a year later. Despite these hardships, Bzeek remains steadfast in his commitment to helping children in need. “The key is to love them as if they were your own,” he reflected. “I know they are sick and that they will die. I do what I can as a human being and leave the rest to God.”
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In summary, Ahmed Bzeek exemplifies selflessness through his dedication to terminally ill children, offering them not only care but a loving environment in their final days. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can make in the lives of the most vulnerable.