The Heartwarming Story of the Adoption of Seven Orphaned Siblings

By Hanna S. , Parent Herald Oct 15, 10:44 pm

Pam and Gary Willis from Menifee, California, already have five biological children and six grandchildren. All their children are all grown up now - Matthew, 32, Andrew, 29, Alexa, 26, Sophia, 22, and Sam, 19, have moved out. Despite having an empty nest, they never planned to adopt a kid, let alone seven siblings. That was until they learned about these seven sibling's sad story.

In January 2019, Pam was scrolling through Facebook, and a news report caught her attention. It was about seven siblings who survived a car crash that killed both their parents in May 2018. The accident left Adelino, 15, Ruby, 13, Aleecia, 8, Anthony, 7, Aubriella, 6 Leo, five, and Xander, four orphaned and homeless. And even if they found a new home, they will likely be separated.

She felt how much they needed a home

Speaking to Metro, Pam, an attorney by profession, said that she felt sad upon learning about the kids' predicament. Just by looking at the children's photos made her realize how much they needed a forever home. Pam, 49, said she saw how much the kids needed someone to love them, given that they have no one else to go to. It was then that she started contacting the adoption service regularly to show their willingness to help the children.

Then, in March 2019, she and Gary, 52, were allowed to see the children, and "it was instant love." Gary, a US Navy veteran, said that their six-bed house had been empty since their children moved out, and he hated seeing the rooms empty with no one living in them. And while they initially had concerns, he said they knew what they wanted just as soon as they saw the orphaned siblings.

Problems at First, But Everyone Eventually Adjusted

The kids had been in a children's home for a year, he said, and desperate for stability, which he and Pam can provide. They have a safe house and have the knowledge and experience needed to care for them.

And so in June last year, Pam and Gary welcomed the seven siblings into their home. However, having seven newly adopted children in the family didn't come without 'early teething problems," Pam said. There were trust issues, and the children had sleep disturbances initially but later adjusted to the changes.

Their "magnificent seven" has been with them for 15 months now and, in fact, has now bonded with Pam and Gary's older biological children. She said their older children were very welcoming and treated the kids like their own brothers and sisters. At one point, the oldest of the adopted siblings thanked them for "giving us this life." Pam said that seeing that the kids are incredibly happy with their newfound family makes her feel happy.