'I am fun to be around.' A family would be a perfect gift for teen girl in foster care

As most teenagers do, 13-year-old Breanna enjoys scrolling through Tik Tok videos, being with her friends and making her own decisions.

She dreams of being president one day, so she could "make a no-homework rule."

And while she would love an iPhone and being able to pick out new clothes and sneakers this holiday season, there is one gift the spunky seventh grader would welcome that money can't buy: a new family.

But that comes with a warning.

"I don't want to get my expectations up and then nothing happens," said Breanna, who has been in foster care for most of her life. "I just want a family who will listen to me and care for me and to go places with."

Breanna, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, is fiercely independent and doesn't let anything get in her way.

"I am stubborn," she said. "If you tell me I can't do something, I figure out how to do it."

Gia Tutalo-Mote, the CEO and founder of Forever Family, a nonprofit organization that helps children and teens find permanent homes, said she nominated Breanna for the Miami Herald's Wish Book holiday giving program because of her spirit. She says Breanna could use gift cards for clothes and sneakers.

"Breanna has endured a lot during her short thirteen years," Tutalo-Mote said in the nomination. "In spite of this, Breanna remains optimistic and happy, full of life and energy."

For about three years now, she has been living in a group home with four other girls who also have special needs. Before that, Breanna said she had moved from one placement to another around six times. Because Breanna is in the state's foster care system, one of the agencies that works with her asked that her last name not be used.

Aldith Murray, who runs the home, said Breanna would benefit from being in a family that would nurture her and be there for her. Breanna, she said, needs stability, a permanent home where she feels accepted.

"She has been let down before," Murray said, adding that Breanna has put her guard up when it comes to being adopted. "It's her coping mechanism."

The pandemic has been especially hard on Breanna because of health concerns at the home. Murray said she has had to limit where Breanna can go and what she can do.

"It hasn't been easy for her," Murray said. "There are things she wants to do that I just can't let her do right now."

Murray said that Breanna loves electronics and would do well in the performing arts.

Breanna, who is not a fan of school, says she makes friends easily and is fun to be around. She loves animals, the character Stitch from the movie "Lilo & Stitch" and the color blue.

"I am fun to be around," she said, adding that she is happy where she is, but would definitely consider being adopted. "I like to be positive."

Grant a wish. Make a difference.

How to help: Wish Book is trying to help this family and hundreds of others in need this year. To donate, pay securely at MiamiHerald.com/wishbook.

To help this nominee and 150 other nominees who are in need this year:

To donate, use the coupon found in the newspaper or pay securely online through www.MiamiHerald.com/wishbook

For more information, call 305-376-2906 or emailWishbook@MiamiHerald.com

The most requested items are often laptops and tablets for school, furniture, and accessible vans

Read all Wish Book stories on www.MiamiHerald.com/wishbook

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