Couple was happy as empty nesters—then a 3-minute news segment moved them to adopt 7 siblings
A loving home can make a big difference for children in their formative years. Seven siblings who had lost their parents in a car crash hoped for one such home, too. However, they could see that it was difficult to find caregivers who would be willing to take in all seven of them at the same time. Fortunately, their story reached a couple, Pamela and Gary Willis, who had recently become empty nesters. They saw a three-minute news segment on the siblings and decided to offer them a forever home, per CBS 8 San Diego.
Pamela had seen the news segment on the siblings back in 2019. She had recently become an empty nester after her fifth and last biological son moved out of the house after graduating high school. The kids, aged two to 13, were hoping for the same family to take all of them in. One of the girls, Ruby, said her greatest wish was to get adopted. The segment had become quite popular on Facebook before it reached Pamela. "I saw seven and I was like, 'Oh my goodness!' My first thought was that no one was going to have room for them. Then the second thing I thought was I have room for them." She added, "I just looked at them and watched their faces. I saw the video, probably like two or three times. I just kept staring at them, thinking these could be my kids."
"I was just very touched when I saw them. When Ruby said they needed a forever family, I was like, I'll help you," Gary recounted. The adoption process was completed during the pandemic. "I didn't think that we would find a family that would take all of us. Because it's insane. Got to be really crazy to take seven kids, especially with how all of us are. With the problems that we have," Ruby pointed out. The kids were in a car crash with their parents. The girl was talking about the severe injuries they had suffered because of the accident, even when all seven of them made it out alive. However, things weren't easy for the kids even before they lost their parents in the crash. They had been homeless quite a few times. Food was also scarce at the family's house.
"Yes, we were homeless a few times," the oldest boy, 15-year-old Adelino, told the outlet. "Basically hell, that's how I would describe it. Hardly any food. I was always arguing with my parents, or they were always holed up in their room." The teen had suffered multiple broken bones, including his spine and ribs, because of the crash. So he was really grateful to his new parents for giving him a second chance at life. "Thank you for everything. You took us out of a really difficult time. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have been here now if it wasn't for you guys," Adelion expressed to Gary and Pamela. The couple had also been foster parents since 2013.
"I think there are so many children out there in need of a home. I also feel it is a huge responsibility to make people aware of that," Pamela continued. People appreciated the couple in the comments section of the video. @bonnieralston1706 wrote, "After raising my family, I know I would not have the patience or stamina to take on seven additional children. I so respect and admire this couple, who did so much to ensure these children would have a good home and a secure life." @donademim commented, "What a beautiful family. They are well-raised and well-mannered. A blessing!"