Maryland Foster Mother, 88, Retiring After Helping Raise More Than 40 Children

An 88-year old Maryland foster mom is retiring after helping raise more than 40 children during four decades of service.

Emma Patterson began taking in foster kids in the early 80s when her own biological children would bring home friends who needed a place to stay or food to eat. 

Patterson said she grew up in a house where she was loved and adored by her parents which influenced her desire to help others.  

“For a child not to experience that - not to have someone to love and care for you and nurture you - I just felt awful,” Patterson told NBC Washington.  

Madison Scott is now an all-star forward for the Ole Miss basketball team - a reality that wouldn’t have happened without Patterson, who took her in when she was just five months old. 

“I wouldn’t be here with Nana,” Scott told NBC Washington, “She took my mom in and took me in and treated us like we were her own.” 

“She’s loved us, she’s cared for us, she’s done everything.”

Another former foster kid of Patterson’s, Michael Brown, lived under Patterson’s care twice. He shares Scott’s sentiments.  

“My Nana has been influential all of my life,” Brown told DC News Now.  “She’s showed [sic] me what a family structure is like - to have respect, responsibility and become a better man.” 

Brown and Scott were just two of dozens of Patterson’s kids who attended a recent ceremony honoring Patterson for her decades of fostering. 

Montgomery County Executive, Mark Elrich presented her with a distinct designation from the county. There were lots of hugs and tears to go around.   

Patterson said she never expected to be honored; watching the children she’s cared for go on to live successful lives is reward enough. 

“To see these young people make these wonderful achievements … they are having such wonderful lives,” Patterson told DC News Now. “You can’t really ask for anything more than that.” 

As for her parenting advice, Patterson said there’s no recipe. 

“Nobody told me what to do or how to do it. You just kind of follow your heart and you just do what you think the children need.”