Ralph and Sue Hillman of Murfreesboro have a special place in their hearts for babies and not just their own.
With three grown children, the couple has helped care for 112 other babies through the years as foster parents.
“To think we’ve changed all of their diapers, given them all baths and fed them all,” joked Sue as she stood in front of a photo wall with pictures of each child the couple has cared for since November 1989.
The Hillmans said they remember each of the babies that have come into their home.
“This little baby right here is a big football player right now and he’s going to be graduating high school so he’ll be ready to go,” Sue said while pointing to one picture.
Now, 26 years later, the babies still keep coming.
Most recently the couple provided a home for an infant named Elizabeth.
Like many of the other children before her, she was born to a mother who used drugs.
“She had some issues with drugs. Heroin, amphetamines, all kinds of bad stuff and nicotine,” said Ralph.
The Hillmans said the babies come their way for many different reasons besides drugs.
“Sometimes it’s because they can’t handle them. The birth mom already knows that. Sometimes they’re too young and often they’re too old and maybe they have too many kids already,” said Ralph.
Sue used to work as a labor and delivery nurse and never imagined she was actually in training to become a foster parent.
The couple says it was a calling from God and the voice came to Sue one night at church that said, “I want you to take care of babies.”
Sue came home and told Ralph and he was (continue reading at WKRN)