Foster's Voice

Foster’s Story

Foster Charles Atwood joined the world and our family on a chilly day, November 1st, 1997. He was beautiful, with big bright eyes and a sweet disposition. Foster joined his Dad Kevin, Mother Kim and Sister Emma, and with his birth, came the cookie cutter completeness of the ideal little family everyone always dreams of – Dad, Mom, 1 boy, 1 girl. Foster and Emma grew up so close in age, relationship and appearance, that many times over the years, they were mistaken for twins. Some siblings have a special, almost magical bond, Emma & Foster are proof of this.

When Foster and Emma were little, their parents divorced. As in any family of divorce, there are hard times and finding a new normalcy. Their Dad Kevin has always been extremely devoted to his children, and despite some tough times, they always knew that they were incredibly loved. As is the case so often in life, those tough times were replaced by much brighter days. Kevin met Jaime, who also had a daughter Tristyn and son Ethan that were very close in age to Emma and Foster. It was a match made in Heaven, and before long, these 2 families became 1 in not only name, but in unconditional, unwavering love. The 6 of them meshed so well, and both Kevin and Jaime loved all of the children as if they were their own. Kim also had another son, Sam who grew up looking up to Foster!

Foster’s sparkling eyes, big smile, and fun-loving personality charmed people from the time he was little until the day he left this world. He was intelligent, endearing, resilient and kind. He came to the East Moline - Hampton District as a shy “new kid” with goggle style glasses, but thanks to his charisma, and the love and support of his siblings, he quickly gained lifelong friends. He was a kind classmate who was accepting of diversity and quick to look out for and put special needs classmates under his wings to make sure they were treated kindly. He finished his time at UT on the Homecoming Court, and graduated United Township High School with honors in 2016. After graduation, Foster enrolled at Blackhawk College and worked full-time at Stashu’s in Moline, where he maintained wonderful relationships with his coworkers and customers alike. Foster’s Mom Jaime was always proud of the compliments that she received on how polite he was – courteous and respectful to all people, all the time.

Foster was an enthusiastic and talented Athlete from an early age. He LOVED baseball, and played it from T-ball, to East Moline Little League, to Travel Baseball with the QC A’s and UT Titans, and finally UT High School. He also played football from early on with the Jr Panthers, and finished his High School career on the UT Football Team. He played Jr Panther Basketball, and joined the UT Golf Team in High School. Kevin was always proud of Foster’s athletic toughness – he never gave up, never quit during tough practices, drills or games. Foster lived and breathed sports -- if he wasn’t playing, he was watching, if he wasn’t watching, he was talking sports. He had jerseys of his favorite players from every sport, and wore them almost every day. Though his love for sports was wide and diverse, he loved the Chicago Cubs most of all, and was ecstatic when they won the World Series on the day after his 19th birthday – November 2nd, 2016.

It’s still surreal, and almost unbearable, for us to believe that just a little over 8 months later, Foster would be gone from this world, and we would be honoring his memory by wearing our favorite Cubs gear to his Visitation and Funeral services, singing “Go Cubs Go” in his honor, Pallbearers all dressed in Foster’s own Cubs jerseys. This is not the storyline that any of us expected Foster’s life to follow, this is not the way his life should have ended.

Foster was always so full of life and happy on the outside. As his family, we are comforted in knowing that he had so many wonderful, fun experiences with us and with his friends. We were devoted to having special family vacations, dinners and escapades. One of our last trips all together was catching a Cubs game on May 2nd, Tristyn’s birthday. We had the best time, and took awesome pictures…we will cling to the memories of that day, and of all of the wonderful times that Foster had in this world.

Foster’s handsome, smiling face and sweet persona was hiding deep turmoil, and the tremendous weight of anxiety and depression. Foster was so loved by so many – friends, family, coworkers, customers. He knew how very loved he was, and he loved hard right back. Besides his bright eyes and smile, you’ll also notice that there are literally hundreds of pictures of him hugging a friend or loved one. Despite all of the good that was in Foster’s life and heart, he was overtaken by depression. In the last months of his life, he reached out for help, and fought so hard to overcome it. Foster would have never, ever have wanted to see his friends and family in so much pain, but the truth that we are beginning to understand, is that he simply could not bear his own pain any longer.

Foster Charles Atwood, you are loved now and forever. Your life has been a blessing, and we, as your loved ones, intend on ensuring that you will live on forever in the hearts of all of those who hear your story. We will share your voice in the hope of saving other blessed souls such as yours. Love is forever Son.