Nathan Howard

In December 2014, the Washington Department of Children and Family Services removed Kaine Edward Lusk from his biological parents. Years of physical abuse and neglect had left Kaine with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which manifested in violent tantrums and an array of developmental issues. Medication and therapy adjustments for foster children need to be approaved by a judge, a legal speed bump that often kept Kaine stuck on prescriptions that exacerbated some of his issues. After nearly five years spent cycling through foster homes, Kaine landed on the stoop of long-time foster parents Roddy and Crystal Bauer. Two years later, the Bauers officially adopted Kaine, who changed his name to Kaine Jackson Bauer in honor of his love for the late musician Michael Jackson.

Jeff Lusk, Kaine's biological father, pulls Kaine into a hug during a monthly meeting at Applebees. The Bauers chose to maintain an open adoption, which allows Kaine’s birth parents to see him a few times a year and on major holidays. During the visit Kaine repeatedly asks to schedule another meetup with his birth parents the next day, which Crystal gently denied.

Kaine pretends to sleep on the Bauer's backyard playground slide minutes before Roddy makes him leave for therapy. "Go away Mom," he yelled despite her not being at the house.

Kaine holds up a new ukulele for the judge handling his case, David Gregerson, who told Kaine he also plays the instrument Kaine is an avid music lover, but had been without an instrument since throwing a tantrum and breaking his guitar a few weeks earlier.

Kaine hangs from elastic ropes during therapy at Stargait Physical Therapy. The team at Stargait works with Kaine to improve his body’s reactions to outside stimuli.

Crystal combs Kaine's hair into a mohawk after he decided he wanted to wear the hair style to bed.

Kaine spins on his toes while dancing along to a video featuring Elvis Presley in his Elvis Halloween costume at his foster home. Kaine, who is obsessed with Elvis and Michael Jackson, begged to change his name to Michael Jackson following his adoption.

Kaine crawls on the floor while the rest of his bible study class listens to the pastor during a weekday church service. "Three minutes is pretty much the longest he’ll do anything,” Crystal said of Kaine’s ADHD.

Kaine closes his eyes and floats on his back while taking a bath before bed on Nov. 8, 2018.

Shelly Krebs, the Bauer's attorney, from left, Kaine's case worker Jennifer Brinkman, Roddy Bauer, Crystal Bauer, Kaine Jackson Bauer, and Ronald Bauer, the Bauer's biological son, celebrate in the courtroom following Kaine’s official adoption on Nov. 16, 2018.

Crystal strokes Kaine’s head as he sleeps in his room. "If we didn't adopt he was going to leave our home. The state had to make plans for him, for his sake, so he could start bonding in a new home. It was that moment when I knew I couldn’t let him go."