Hallmark’s Jen Lilley shared an emotional post on Instagram to both honor and mourn her late friend Yvonne Lime Fedderson, who co-founded the national nonprofit Childhelp.
Lilley explained that without Fedderson, she and her husband, Jason Wayne, with whom she shares four children, two biologically and two through adoption, would never have expanded their family and welcomed children into their lives.
Jen Lilley Mourns Beloved Friend Who Inspired Her to be a Mom
“We’re in Phoenix today to celebrate the life of Yvonne Fedderson — co-founder of @childhelp — and to wrap our arms around her dear friend and partner, Sara O’Meara,” Lilley captioned a photo of her and Wayne while on a hike in Arizona.
“I sat on this rock this morning and got a little undone,” the actress continued. “Because without their work, Jason and I never would have become foster parents. We never would have had four kids. I never would have met Dr. John DeGarmo. I never would have written Called to Foster? All of it — all of it — traces back to their obedience.”
Fedderson died in January at the age of 90, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Fedderson trailblazed through child advocacy with her national organization, Childhelp, founded in 1959. She and her co-founder Sara O’Meara helped to establish the first-ever national, toll-free hotline for child abuse support, available 24/7. The hotline is still reachable to this day after launching in 1982.
Jen Lilley Reflects on Life-Changing Decision to Adopt Her 2 Sons
Lilley continued her tribute to Fedderson by highlighting her exceptional work in helping children impacted by abuse and neglect. “Yvonne spent her life fighting for abused and neglected children — over 12 million of them,” she wrote. “She had no idea that her obedience would ripple outward for decades. That it would lead me and Jason to actually become foster parents. That it would change everything.”
The “A Royal Setting” star went on by reflecting on her and Wayne’s decision to adopt their sons. The couple adopted Kayden in 2019 and Jeffrey, his half-brother, in 2020. “That’s the thing about saying yes to God. You rarely see what it grows into. But somewhere down the line, it becomes someone else’s whole story,” Lilley shared. “What if your yes became someone else’s whole story?”
To end her post, Lilley encouraged anyone thinking about adopting or fostering a child to embrace that calling. She also mentioned her upcoming book “Called to Foster?” — a guide for any and all foster care questions, releasing on May 5. “If you’ve ever considered foster care but don’t know where to start — or you’re already in it and facing burnout — I laid my life bare in Called to Foster? An Honest Guide to Getting Started,” Lilley wrote. “It’s a tell-all, not a highlight reel.”
