The last time we shared an update on King Weatherspoon he was finalizing his adoption and on the path to a promising future as a student, writer and speaker.  Now he’s a senior in high school and a published author.

You may recall King’s story.  His case made headlines when he was removed from his home due to severe health risks as a result of his weight and concerns about his education and isolation.  After trying to work with his family unsuccessfully, he was eventually placed with a foster parent who was dedicated to helping him get healthy and back on track in school.  With a network of support, King lost weight, his health conditions improved, he got caught up on his classwork and became active in church and school. King was eventually adopted by his foster mom. (Adoption video) He set his sights high and was admitted to Hawken School for high school. (Read more details of King’s story.) 

That was just the beginning of King’s incredible story. Today he is a senior in high school, and he’s written a book about his experience. His book, titled “To, Too Many Children: A Collection of Moments by Weatherspoon”, is a collection of poems about his experiences in mostly black urban schools versus mostly white suburban schools and his effort to define himself. 

Recently King was featured in Cleveland Magazine and talked about his experience at the private high school where he’s earned a full scholarship.   “I was a very black kid in this very white world,” he told the magazine. “I felt like I needed to find my place.” King shared how speech and debate, and poetry helped him overcome his shyness and opened a world of opportunities. “It unlocked every door,” he said. “I just saw my world open up.”

King’s resilience through health problems, removal, and foster care have been amazing and critical to his success. So has the commitment of his adoptive mother who helped him get healthy, active, and supports his efforts to achieve every step of the way.

We look forward to seeing all the wonderful things King will achieve as he graduates high school and builds a promising future.