When kids need foster care, it sometimes entails separating siblings. Keeping the siblings together, especially when there are five of them, might seem impossible — but one foster parent decided to make it happen.
When kids need foster care, it sometimes entails separating siblings. Keeping the siblings together, especially when there are five of them, might seem impossible — but one foster parent decided to make it happen.
Thomas, a resident of Buffalo, New York, has made it his life's work to improve the lives of kids. In addition to two biological kids, he's fostered dozens over the years. But as he's gotten older, Thomas has taken a step back.
These kids are all siblings under the age of five. There's Zendaya, Jamel, Nakia, Major, and Michaela. Their parent is one of Thomas' former fosters, and all five of them needed a home.
With Judge Lisa Rodwin making it official, Thomas was able to officially adopt all five siblings, bringing them under the same roof and giving them stability they'd never known before.
With Thomas' biological kids out of the house, his new kids bring a lot of energy into his home. "They're lovable kids, very affectionate," he said. "They deserve to be raised as siblings, and that was my fight."
Another of Thomas' foster kids, Michael, described the impact on his life. "I can't believe he's started all over again," Michael said. "Lamont has been a life-saver to me. I wouldn't be the person that I am today, had Lamont not ventured in my life."
Thomas had been fostering the kids for the previous couple of years and decided to take the step of officially adopting them so they could live together without the fear of being transferred to another home.
In addition to the dozens of kids he's fostered and his two biological kids, Thomas had previously adopted five kids. Add in the five siblings and he officially has twelve kids.
"It's amazing he's taking on all of them," said Thomas' daughter, 27-year-old LaMonica. "He does anything for everybody. He's a really great man."
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h/t: WGRZ, Good Morning America