Mohamed Bzeek, an American Muslim of Libyan descent, has served as a foster parent to terminally ill children in the US for almost thirty years.

In 1978, Bzeek, then a former marathon runner, came to the U.S. from Libya to study engineering. He met his wife here in the U.S., and became a citizen in 1997.

Over almost three decades, he and his wife cared for scores of children. Ten have died in his care. Most of the children he’s taken recently were born with terminal illnesses.

Today, he lives with a 6-year-old foster daughter born with microcephaly, a rare disorder in which a baby’s brain doesn’t fully develop. She cannot see or hear. She responds only to touch.

At seven weeks old, the county took her from her biological parents. They called Bzeek, and he agreed to take her in. He also cares for his biological son, Adam, who himself was born in 1997 with brittle bones, dwarfism, and other physical challenges.

In December, the 62 year-old Bzeek underwent cancer surgery and reported gaining even greater empathy for the children who have no one to care for them, or about them, in their time of greatest need.

“The key is, you have to love them like your own,” Bzeek said. “I know they are sick. I know they are going to die. I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God.”

Read more about Mohamed Bzeek: 

The Story of This Muslim Foster Father Inspires Humanity