"We love it - it's the best thing we've ever done."
That's the verdict of a Lancashire hairdresser who overcame two kidney transplants before becoming a foster carer.
Thomas, 31, of Cleveleys, started fostering with partner Wayne, 56, at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
However, this wasn't the only obstacle for the couple, as Thomas had undergone a kidney transplant a few months earlier, having been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease aged 13.
This was the second of two kidney transplants, the first of which was at the age of 23. Thomas now manages his condition through daily dialysis and home treatment.
Yet despite these challenges, the couple were able to become foster carers shortly afterwards and say it's the best thing they’ve ever done.
Since swapping foils for fostering, Thomas, along with partner Wayne, has gone on to foster a total of 13 children.
The couple are currently fostering three children, *Eva, 21 months old, who has been with them since three months old, *Tyler, six, and *Wendy, aged seven, who's been with them for the last three years.
Thomas said: "I do like seeing the children making progress. *Tyler was hardly able to speak when he came to us, but he has been making such good progress ever since.
"My favourite thing, though, is when they refer to us as home, and say, we are home now. And I think, that's lovely, as this is your home."
Thomas says he finds the emotional impact of hearing the children talking about their stories particularly moving.
"It can be hard when the children tell you about their experiences, or the challenges they have faced. Tyler has just been diagnosed with a disability, long term, and we're planning how we can support him to stay with us now."
A day in the family's life involves normal daily activities.
"It's school routine, we get them to school, then when we get them home, we read with them, and then it's tea, bath, bedtime, just a normal routine, really - we are a normal family, and they do feel like our children."
The couple are now in the process of adopting *Eva, and applying for guardianship of *Tyler and *Wendy so they can be with them long term.
Thomas's top tips for anyone interested in finding out more about fostering is to try it, adding:
"There was a process of checks and of liaising with social workers, and they do go through your life and your lifestyle, and your background, but I thought it wasn't too stressful."
He adds: "Looking back, I am proud of what I’ve achieved over the last few years and I hope that the children we have helped do look at us and see if you try, you can do anything. Even when I’ve not been too well, they’ve still seen me get up and carry on with normal life."
Now, he says, he's looking forward to having the three children long term.
He adds: "It honestly is worth it - I'd recommend giving it a go. I think fostering is absolutely the best thing I've ever done, and it's absolutely worth it."
To find out more about fostering, click here.