Christmas Wish

DeAnn Thompson has built her life around caring for others. After raising six children—five biological and one adopted—she and her husband Jeff began fostering children in need. But in 2011, tragedy struck. Jeff died suddenly, leaving DeAnn to carry on their calling alone.

She didn’t stop and she kept fostering. Eventually, she adopted four more children: Sophia, Silvia, Chloe, and Isabella, who now fill her home with laughter and life. But behind the scenes, DeAnn has been struggling. A string of costly car repairs threatened to shut down her small business. With Christmas approaching, she was unsure how she would provide for her family.

That’s where Christmas Wish came in.

DeAnn received an unexpected $5,000 from KCBI’s Christmas Wish thanks to the generosity of Mosquito Joe and the faithful work of Buckner Children and Family Services. It brought stability to her finances, encouragement to her heart, and a powerful reminder that she is not alone.

When Uriel and Adrianna Barrios arrived in the U.S. with their 14-year-old twins, Adel and Maria, they had little more than faith. That first Christmas, they found a discarded tree near a dumpster and placed it in their apartment. There were no ornaments, but their hearts were full of hope.

They soon connected with Mission Arlington and became active in an apartment church. They gave their lives to Christ, were baptized, and are now helping lead a new church community. Maria volunteers in childcare. Adel shares the Christmas story from Luke 2 with those coming to receive gifts and is working hard to memorize it word for word.

Still, the financial strain is heavy. Rent is $1,500 a month and there is little left after that. This Christmas, KCBI’s Christmas Wish, with the help of Living Way Properties and The Gaylord Texan, gave the Barrios family something they never expected. A gift that relieved their burden and reminded them that their faithfulness has not gone unnoticed.

Tierra McCarty is a single mom raising two kids. Her youngest daughter, Gracie, has multiple medical challenges and attends therapy four times a week. Tierra also works as a ramp agent for American Airlines and is a full-time student studying to become an airplane mechanic. She’s earning straight A’s and doing everything she can to build a better future.

But the pressure finally caught up to her. The combination of work, parenting, school, and financial strain triggered panic attacks. One day, she collapsed in front of her kids. She made the hard decision to take unpaid medical leave and started taking delivery jobs to cover the bills. She has even pawned personal items just to keep going.

Through it all, Tierra has clung to her faith. Years ago, Embrace Grace walked with her through an unplanned pregnancy and a dark season. Today, that same community continues to remind her that she is not alone. With the help of Embrace Grace and Cornerstone Staffing, KCBI’s Christmas Wish brought Tierra the gift of stability, encouragement, and the reminder that God is still moving.