O’s Journey: From Fear to Family 

In 2022, a 10-year-old boy arrived at Kinloch Price Boys Ranch (KPBR) in a tragic state. Fear consumed him. He refused to speak, kept his back to the wall, and wrapped himself in a jacket that swallowed his slight build, with his hat pulled low over his eyes—an attempt to disappear into the background. Abuse had been a consistent part of his life, and trust was a foreign concept. 

Yet, even in his silence, we saw something deeper: a child longing for safety, for connection, for love.  

At KPBR, young Mr. O found a place where healing could begin. He gradually connected with a few staff members, forming his first (but still fragile) relationships built on trust. We’re so grateful for a para-educator at his school who saw his potential and worked with him daily, helping him take steps toward engagement. As O’s capacity for relationships grew, so did the challenges. Feeling safe for the first time in his life, he began expressing emotions he had long suppressed, sometimes through outbursts and struggles with self-regulation. The KPBR staff, his therapist, and partner agencies walked alongside him, patiently guiding him toward healthier ways of expressing himself. 

A pivotal moment came in July 2023, when O was matched with Matt Miller, a Christian mentor through Youth Horizons. Matt, a teacher in Wichita, saw beyond O’s trauma—he saw a boy with a kind and thoughtful heart. Through months of consistent mentorship, their relationship deepened. O’s once-limited ability to trust began to grow. 

Soon Matt and his wife, Alli, felt called to something more. They made the life-changing decision to open their home to O through foster care—with the full intent to adopt. 

 

It’s been a joy and a privilege to watch O grow through the past few years. We’re excited to continue to walk this road with him and support and challenge him as he grows into the man we know he can be. We’re thankful to God for the ways He has watched over O, and even in challenging and hard times we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love him. It’s an honor to see our family grow to include O.

Last week, O “graduated” from KPBR—not just moving to a new home but stepping into a future filled with belonging and family. While the adoption process is still ongoing, O is now part of a home where he is truly wanted, where he will continue to grow, and where love is not conditional. His transition toward wholeness is well underway. 

This journey – from fear to trust, from trauma to transformation, from a boy afraid to lift his head to a boy welcomed into a family – is why we do what we do at Youth Horizons.  

To Matt and Alli, we are grateful for your obedience to God’s calling. To the KPBR staff, your faithfulness in O’s life helped make this possible. And to young Mr. O, welcome home.  

If you’ve ever wondered whether investing in the life of a child makes a difference, think of O.  

Interested in mentoring, fostering, or supporting kids like O? Learn more at youthhorizons.net