When great-grandmother-of-three Elena Monaghan was shown a video of William she knew he was her son.
She first met William, now 39, who has cerebral palsy, when he was 18, and says asking him to join the family was the best decision of her life.
"I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have William," said Elena, 66, who lost husband Richard three years ago.
"To be in the house on my own, I'd be sitting watching daytime television whereas instead I'm planning days out for Willie, organising the sensory room, out gardening and organising holidays for us."
William was fostered through a programme run by family charity Quarriers.
And grandmother-of-seven Elena is now urging other West of Scotland families to do the same.
She said: "Other people don't know what they're missing. It's so rewarding, more people should do it.
"I wish I was 40 years younger – and I would be taking someone else to foster, too.
"I've got so many friends because of him.
"I'm involved with the carers' centre, involved with walking groups and I wouldn't be doing that if it wasn't for Willie.
"My day is a lot fuller with a lot more meaning because he's here."
Elena, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, has worked in day centres for people with complex needs similar to William's, for 40 years.
The chance to foster William came when she visited the Quarriers Fred Martin project where he was receiving residential care.
She said: "I was at a meeting where I saw a video, which had a few seconds of William in it, and I fell in love.
"I thought 'that's my boy'. He was probably just coming up for his 18th birthday."
When Elena spoke to Richard, as well as her children Seamus and Cindy, now both 45, Kerry, 42, and Liam, 40, they were unanimous.
She said: "My children grew up knowing people with complex needs so it didn't really worry them -they said to 'go for it'.
"Cindy was a missionary in Zimbabwe at that time so we had to get in touch with her but she was happy too. My husband called the project to say we were interested so we watched a longer video of Willie.
"Our first words were: 'When can we have him?'"
William began coming to stay with the family at weekends.
After a wheelchair ramp was installed and all the checks were done, William moved in permanently shortly after his 20th birthday. Elena said William needs full-time care.
SHE said: "He needs support with every aspect of his life, from personal care to medical needs.
"He needs help washing, getting dressed and he doesn't eat properly."
Despite this, Elena describes William as an "adrenaline junkie".
They go to the Calvert Trust Outdoor Centre in Kielder, Northumberland, every year.
Elena said: "He loves zip lining and abseiling, swimming and canoeing, he just loves when we go on holiday."
Lesley Morrison, a social worker with the Fred Martin Project, praised Elena and her family for giving William the chance of a normal life.
She said: "If he stayed in residential care he would have had lots of opportunities but what he wouldn't have is a sense of belonging and absolute trust in Elena and people round him.
"Willie has very complex health needs. His health can deteriorate quickly.
"Because Elena is so involved every day with him she can pick up any sign of him becoming unwell very quickly.
"He's been part of the family for 20 years. He's totally included in everything that they do."
William will celebrate his landmark 40th birthday in March with a family meal.
Elena said: "We will do something special. Taking Willie on was the best thing we could have done.
"I never think of him as being fostered. He's just my son."
rachel.loxton@ heraldandtimes.co.uk
QUARRIERS is holding an open information evening tomorrow in Glasgow's city centre.
Staff and support workers will be on hand to chat to people interested in fostering or caring for a child or adult with learning disabilities.
It takes place from 4pm-7.30pm in the third floor of 151 West George Street, Glasgow.
Call 01505 616000 for more information or visit quarriers.org.uk/fostering
IT was love at first sight. When great-grandmother-of-three Elena Monaghan was shown a video of William she knew he was her son.
She first met William, now 39, who has cerebral palsy, when he was 18, and says asking him to join the family was the best decision of her life.
"I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have William," said Elena, 66, who lost husband Richard three years ago.
"To be in the house on my own, I'd be sitting watching daytime television whereas instead I'm planning days out for Willie, organising the sensory room, out gardening and organising holidays for us."
William was fostered through a programme run by family charity Quarriers.
And grandmother-of-seven Elena is now urging other West of Scotland families to do the same.
She said: "Other people don't know what they're missing. It's so rewarding, more people should do it.
"I wish I was 40 years younger – and I would be taking someone else to foster, too.
"I've got so many friends because of him.
"I'm involved with the carers' centre, involved with walking groups and I wouldn't be doing that if it wasn't for Willie.
"My day is a lot fuller with a lot more meaning because he's here."
Elena, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, has worked in day centres for people with complex needs similar to William's, for 40 years.
The chance to foster William came when she visited the Quarriers Fred Martin project where he was receiving residential care.
She said: "I was at a meeting where I saw a video, which had a few seconds of William in it, and I fell in love.
"I thought 'that's my boy'. He was probably just coming up for his 18th birthday."
When Elena spoke to Richard, as well as her children Seamus and Cindy, now both 45, Kerry, 42, and Liam, 40, they were unanimous.
She said: "My children grew up knowing people with complex needs so it didn't really worry them – they said to go for it.
"Cindy was a missionary in Zimbabwe at that time so we had to get in touch with her but she was happy too. My husband called the project to say we were interested so we watched a longer video of Willie.
"Our first words were: 'When can we have him?'"
William began coming to stay with the family at weekends.
After a wheelchair ramp was installed and all the checks were done, William moved in permanently shortly after his 20th birthday. Elena said William needs full-time care.
SHE said: "He needs support with every aspect of his life, from personal care to medical needs.
"He needs help washing, getting dressed and he doesn't eat properly."
Despite this, Elena describes William as an "adrenaline junkie".
They go to the Calvert Trust Outdoor Centre in Kielder, Northumberland, every year.
Elena said: "He loves zip lining and abseiling, swimming and canoeing, he just loves when we go on holiday."
Lesley Morrison, a social worker with the Fred Martin Project, praised Elena and her family for giving William the chance of a normal life.
She said: "If he stayed in residential care he would have had lots of opportunities but what he wouldn't have is a sense of belonging and absolute trust in Elena and people round him.
"Willie has very complex health needs. His health can deteriorate quickly.
"Because Elena is so involved every day with him she can pick up any sign of him becoming unwell very quickly.
"He's been part of the family for 20 years. He's totally included in everything that they do."
William will celebrate his landmark 40th birthday in March with a family meal.
Elena said: "We will do something special. Taking Willie on was the best thing we could have done.
"I never think of him as being fostered. He's just my son."
rachel.loxton@ heraldandtimes.co.uk
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FOSTERING:
QUARRIERS is holding an open information evening tomorrow in Glasgow's city centre.
Staff and support workers will be on hand to chat to people interested in fostering or caring for a child or adult with learning disabilities.
It takes place from 4pm-7.30pm in the third floor of 151 West George Street, Glasgow.
Call 01505 616000 for more information or visit quarriers.org.uk/fostering
