Barbie Martin, a former foster child who now coaches the Drake‑Anamoose volleyball team, recently uncovered a missing chapter of her life thanks to a baby book and a simple Facebook post.
From baby book to online search
Martin spent the first 27 days of her life in foster care before being adopted through Lutheran Social Services on August 1, 1979. During that brief stay, her foster parents, Ken and Harlene Cole, created a baby book filled with photos and details of her early days.
“I know most of the time you’re looking for your biological family, but you don’t often hear the foster family that is in between there,” Martin said.
After rediscovering the book, Martin photographed its pages and posted the images on Facebook, hoping someone might recognize the family.
Quick response and a name
Within 13 hours, a Facebook user identified the boy in the photos as Kevin Cole, the son of Ken and Harlene. Martin learned that the Coles had fostered around 100 children over the years, inspired by their own child’s experience with a foster family while attending school in Jamestown.
Sadly, Ken and Harlene passed away before Martin could meet them, but the online connection gave her the chance to reach out to Kevin.
Meeting in Williston
Later, after a regional volleyball game in Williston, Martin’s team traveled to the town where Kevin lived. “The stars just kind of aligned,” she said. “I had found him, he said he lived in Williston, then our team went to Williston to play, he grew up in Ray, and our team played Ray that night.”
The reunion allowed Martin to fill a personal gap and cement a lasting bond with Kevin, whom she plans to stay in touch with for years to come.
Encouraging others
Martin hopes her story will inspire other adults who spent time in foster care to explore that part of their history if they wish. “Facebook has been around for a long time, and I know the power of Facebook is very strong,” she reflected. “I wish I had done this years ago, but I’m grateful to finally have this piece of my story.”
Her experience underscores the lasting impact of foster families and the role of community connections in preserving personal histories.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
