Pittsburgh dads adopt six siblings who underwent 5 years of neglect and abuse in foster care
A Pittsburgh couple has decided to give a new home to a family of six siblings who had spent their last five years in foster care. Steve Anderson-McLean and Rob Anderson-McLean adopted 14-year-old Carlos, 13-year-old Guadalupe, 12-year-old Maria, 10-year-old Selena, nine-year-old Nasa, and seven-year-old Max.
The six children had previously experienced a life of abuse and neglect and once the couple heard about their adoption, they were quick to get on board and give a new home to all of them. "Such a staggering amount of sibling groups are broken up and it broke our hearts," Steve said, according to a Daily Mail report. The couple has also raised sons, 25-year-old Parker and 21-year-old Noah, who came from their previous marriages. Steve and Rob got married in a commitment ceremony which took place in 2006 and later, the pair legally married in Maryland in 2013.
After their two sons grew up, the pair realized that they still had room in their hearts for children and decided to extend their family by adoption. They researched for children that needed adoption in the United States and it was then that they came across the six siblings who were looking for a home. Most of the time, siblings are separated because of their number but luckily for this family, Steve and Rob were more than happy to provide them all with a loving home.
"The judge asked, 'Do you understand at this point forward they are your children? They are just as much as your biological children'," Steve recalled the moment when the adoption process took place. "Obviously we knew that, but when I looked up and saw all those eyes, it was very emotional," he continued. "We never imagined we'd be lucky enough or blessed enough to have six."
In order to mark the occasion, special T-shirts which had "Anderson-McLean Established 2019" written on them were made. All eight of them wore the T-shirt and when the process was completed, they took a picture beaming with happiness. Before getting adopted, the children had spent 1,640 days at the adoption center.
"I'd say our kids have brought a great kind of crazy to our lives," Rob said. "It's heartwarming and so exciting to see how they connect with us and our extended family and friends." Prior to the adoption, the children had a tough time because of the abuse they had suffered. In 2017, the birthrights were officially terminated. This allowed them to finally have the option of moving out of foster care and getting adopted by a family. In 2018, the children were matched with Steve and Rob.
Fortunately, the process went smoothly and the children have been living with the pair ever since. "We've known them for less than a year, but at the same time, it feels as if our emotional bonds were years in the making," Rob said. "There are no rules as to what can constitute a family and the love that we share."
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