The Compassionate Life of a Foster Parent for Terminally Ill Children

Meet Mohamed Bzeek, a remarkable man from Los Angeles who has devoted his life to caring for some of the most vulnerable children in foster care. Since 1989, Mohamed and his wife Dawn have opened their hearts and home to over 80 terminally ill children — many arriving in their final weeks, with no family to hold them.

Born in Libya, Mohamed moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s. He and Dawn began fostering in 1989. Over time, they made a life-changing decision: to care specifically for terminally ill children whom no one else would take.
For Mohamed, every child deserves to feel loved, cared for, and dignified, no matter how short their time may be. His home has become a sanctuary for children who would otherwise face their final days alone.

Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services recognizes Mohamed as the only foster parent willing to take children “who would possibly not make it.”

Some of these children arrive blind, deaf, bedridden, or facing severe medical challenges. One deeply touching example is a six-year-old girl with severe brain abnormalities, expected to live only a few weeks. Mohamed cradles her through seizures, holds her as she drifts in and out of consciousness, and reminds her that she is not alone.

Over the years, ten of these children have passed away in Mohamed’s arms. Yet, he continues, driven by faith and compassion. When asked why he chooses such heartbreak, he told PEOPLE magazine:
“They need somebody to love them. They have a soul.”

His unwavering dedication shows that love and human connection are more important than fear of sorrow.

Mohamed’s story highlights a critical need: more foster parents for terminally ill children. Most foster families cannot handle intense medical needs. Mohamed fills this vital gap, giving sick children dignity, human connection, and love in their final days.

Caring for terminally ill children requires extraordinary emotional strength, time, and financial resources. Mohamed often covers extra medical and household expenses himself to ensure these children are safe and comfortable

Mohamed Bzeek — a quiet hero who has spent more than 30 years opening his doors to children no one else will take in — kids with terminal illnesses, abandoned by their families, with nowhere to go.

He gives them what the world couldn’t: a home, a name, and love in their final days. Many of these children arrive barely able to see, speak, or move — but Mohamed holds them, sings to them, and stays by their side until their last breath.
“Every life has value. No child should die without knowing they were loved.”

He works around the clock, often sleeping beside the kids to make sure they don’t wake up scared or in pain. No fame. No fortune. Just faith and love — the purest kind.