Jill Marier on foster care, loss, and loving others.

In this deeply moving episode of MercyCast, I sit down with Jill Marier—a foster parent who has chosen to walk the hard road of loving and parenting medically fragile children. We talk about the unseen reality of foster care, especially for kids who age out of the system each year—many of whom carry invisible wounds. Jill brings to light the challenges and beauty of parenting in adversity, and how compassion isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice, a discipline, and a way to love well.

One of the most impactful parts of our conversation centers on Cassie’s Care Farm—a sanctuary created in memory of a beloved child. It’s a legacy born from loss, a physical space where medically fragile children can experience healing, play, and love. Jill shares how community support made the impossible possible, and how safe spaces are more than places—they’re reflections of our hearts.

This episode is about what it means to show up for someone else, especially when it’s hard. It’s about parenting with patience. It’s about grief, legacy, and what happens when love meets adversity.

Highlights and takeaways from the conversation:

• Over 23,000 children age out of foster care every year—and many do so alone.
• Medically fragile children often go unseen, and many struggle to find foster homes.
• Fostering is more than care—it’s a journey of personal transformation.
• Community support isn’t a bonus—it’s essential.
• Cassie's Care Farm was born out of grief—and built with love.
• Loss has a way of breaking our hearts open to others.
• Safe spaces allow medically fragile children to simply be, without fear.
• Love, especially in parenting, is patient and kind.
• Adversity doesn’t have to break us—it can shape us into something new.

This conversation with Jill left me undone in the best way. It reminded me that love often looks like showing up again and again—even when there are no guarantees. Especially in the foster care space, especially for medically fragile children, love isn't just a warm feeling. It's an act of defiant hope.

So wherever you are, and whatever your story, I want to remind you: your compassion matters. Your community matters. And sometimes, in the midst of deep loss, the seeds of legacy begin to grow.

🔗 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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#MercyCast #FosterCare #Parenting #MedicallyFragileChildren #CassiesCareFarm #LoveInAction #CommunitySupport #Compassion #Legacy #Adversity #Loss

For more about Cassie’s Care Farm and how you can support families fostering medically fragile children, visit madhatterfarm.org.

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