This spring, six Ohio foster siblings found themselves a home—together and without being broken up.
That in and of itself is profound, but the fact that the siblings are white and their adoptive family are black—with five children of their own—is incredible.
The judge in the case, Ralph Winkler, said that as long as he has been on the bench doing family law, he’d never seen six siblings being adopted by one family.
Cincinnati parents Christopher and Christina Sanders said that when they opened their home to foster children, they made a deal.
“We made an agreement,” said Christina. “Whoever we’d get, we would keep ’em and not send them to different houses.”
The Sanders officially adopted Coby, 16; Christian, 14; Caleb, 13; Caylee, 12; Carson, 10; and Chloe, 9, at the Hamilton County, Ohio, Adoption Court on April 27; they had been fostering the children in their six-bedroom home since 2014.
The adopted children actually changed their names to be of one accord with the family.
“Everyone in our family has the initials CMS, and the kids, without us knowing, asked their caseworker if they could change their names to match our initials!” said Christopher. “She said, ‘Yes, you can.’”
The couple has five biological children: Christopher, 19 (at college); Cameron, 14; Caden, 12; Chad, 10; and Caitlyn, 9.
And despite stares they get on the street, the family told People magazine that they rarely receive negative comments.
“People on social media will say, ‘With so many black children in need of adoption, why not adopt black children?’” said Christopher. “But it has never been an issue for me and my wife.”
(St.) Christina said she makes it a point to spend “Mommy and me time” with each of her kids.
“I make sure to spend time with each of them,” she said. “Sometimes we go to a nursing home and pass out treats, or we’ll go shopping. It’s important to take an interest in each child so they know they are all loved equally.”
The family’s grandmother has started a GoFundMe to raise money for a 15-passenger van:
Although the adoption was made official in the spring, the news began circulating on social media again this holiday season, and hey, we need all the happy we can get during this time.
You’re welcome.