With the return of Noah Kirkman, a boy seized by Oregon officials who was put in several foster homes for about two years, his mother, Lisa, says she can now breathe.
“I’ve not been able to breathe in the past years as we fought to get Noah back,” said the ecstatic mom. “I feel like walking on clouds.”
The now-12-year-old boy was seized by American officials in 2008 while visiting his stepfather in Oakridge, Ore.
Noah has been moved through four foster care placements and three schools, but on Friday, he flew back to Calgary with his grandmother, Phyllis Heltay, who along with her husband, Mike, will have transitional custody.
“He’s so happy to come home and while on the plane, he’s been emphasizing the word ‘home,’ ” said Phyllis.
“He’s finally heading back home and that’s all he kept on saying.”
The case, first reported by the Sun, attracted international attention as Lisa pleaded with the Canadian government to step in.
The boy was stopped by police for riding his bike without wearing a helmet.
He has a severe attention deficit disorder and struggled to explain he was on holiday and staying with his stepdad.
The confusion led officers to run the boy’s name through their computer system, where they discovered his past history with Canadian social services, the result of Lisa seeking help with her son’s special needs.
Mike, the boy’s grandpa, said he believes Noah’s transition from their custody to his mom’s will be quick.
“What we’re trying to do now is to bring normalcy to his life, because the past years had been nothing but that,” said the grandpa.
Mike said Calgary family services, which have been supportive of the family’s efforts to bring back the Noah, will do followups, but it’s not clear for how long.
Phyllis said the boy was extremely happy to see everyone and wanted to immediately catch up with his eight-year-old sister. Noah’s sister was at their grandparents’ house for a sleepover.
“They’re talking about sharing stuff and all,” said the grandma.
Lisa said she still couldn’t believe her son is back.
“We’re just trying to get through this weekend, this is a happy news and we’ll surely bring everything normal for everyone, for Noah,” she said.
renato.gandia@sunmedia.ca
