I Adopted Four Siblings Who Were
Two years after his wife Lauren and six-year-old son Caleb were killed by a drunk driver,
the narrator says he was “still alive—but barely,” moving through life on “autopilot.”
One night, he saw a post about four siblings—3, 5, 7, and 9—who had lost both parents.
If no one adopted them together, they would be separated.
Remembering his own loss, he called Child Services. “I’ll take all four,” he said.
After months of paperwork and inspections, he met Owen, Tessa, Cole, and Ruby.
They sat close, unsure. “All of us?” Tessa asked. “All of you,” he promised.
The adjustment was difficult, filled with grief and anger.
When Cole shouted, “You’re not my real dad,” he replied, “I know. But I’m still here.”
Gradually, trust grew. Ruby slept on his chest. Tessa added his last name to hers. One night, Owen whispered, “Goodnight, Dad.”
Though he will always miss his wife and son, the four children shouting “Dad!”
gave his life meaning again—“in saving them, they saved me too.”
