Jeane and Paul Briggs, of West Virginia, have adopted 12 children from Russia, Ukraine and Mexico, in addition to their own five children.
They range from 4 to 27, including five sets of “virtual twins,” Jeane Briggs said.
They drive two hours from their Falling Waters home to hospitals in Baltimore and Washington, where many of their children receive medical care for conditions including blindness, mild brain damage, cleft palette, polio, kidney problems and fetal alcohol syndrome.
“It was what I was supposed to do,” Jeane said of caring for special needs children. “I?ve always wanted lots of children. I?ve always had a heart for special needs. They?re just as important. They?re the very breath of air I breathe.”
When not by their hospital bedside, Jeane homeschools all her children while her husband, Paul, works in Hagerstown, Md.
The Briggs receive $10,000 from Paul?s company, First Data Corp., for every adopted child. Money from the employee benefits adoption assistance plan and the federal tax credit for adoption helps them support their growing family.
“I think it?s fun. It really never gets boring” living with so many brothers and sisters, said Benjamin, 14, the youngest of Jeane and Paul?s natural born children.
“Having a lot of kids isn?t easy. Because we chose this doesn?t make it easy,” Paul said. “But when you know your doing what you?ve been called to do, there?s a peace about it.”
The couple is trying to adopt two special needs girls.
“I don?t think we?re quite done,” Jeane said. “I hope I?m here when I?m 80, staying with another kid [in the hospital].”
How to help
Luke?s doctor, Shawn Standard, and his secretary, Barbara Salkin, said the family is outgrowing their 15-passenger van. Anyone looking to make a donation towards a mini shuttle bus should contact the doctor?s office at 410-601-9570.
