The Doctors: Adopting Special Needs Children
Dr. Travis Stork shared that sometimes we may feel like we live in a world where it’s every man for themselves, but that is not the case for the Larson family “who’s selfless acts are the only things they know how to do.”
The Larsons have fostered over 41 children, and their house is certainly full with the 12 children that live with them. All of the children living Richard and Happie’s home are adopted.
Happie explained that she does around 10 loads of laundry every day. She said that all of the children they have adopted have been special needs children who have been injured physically and emotionally. They get all their children around using a 26-passenger bus and 80% of the time, Happie is the one who drives the bus.
The Drs TV: Parents Of Over 41 Foster Children
The Doctors sat down with Happie and Richard Larson to hear their story of how they have fostered 41 special needs children. (Nowik Sylwia / Shutterstock.com)
Like one of the young boys said, loading up the bus is like “trying to gather up a rodeo.” Happie joked that she already took out a neighbor’s mailbox trying to drive the bus.
Happie went into foster care when she was 14 years old and Richard was raised in an abusive home, and Happie said it made her very determined to make things different for others.
She said she has children in her homes right now who’s situations were “so horrific that they used heater vents as their toilets and begged for food from the neighbors.” She said sometimes she has to bring the children downstairs into the pantry and assure them they’re never going to go hungry again. She said they’ve had children who’ve barely managed to survive.
Kenlee, one of the Larson’s 12-year-old daughters, shared that her parents used drugs a lot and has other siblings who also had to go through that. Talon, one of the Larson’s 11-year-old sons, shared that he’s glad he’s with the Larson’s.
The Doctors: Larson Family Fosters Special Needs Kids
Kenlee said she’s learned that it’s okay to have a good life and Talon said he feels like he can do anything. Richard said they’re not foster kids that came to live with them, they’re his children and he loves and is dedicated to them. Happie said they’re free to speak about what they’ve been through and be proud of their situation.
The parents received a standing ovation for their dedication to their children. Richard said it’s probably a hard thing for people to understand that a father can be just as involved with his children as a mother can. Dr. Stork said that they have proved that love is not about genetics, and then asked them if they’ve ever been on a vacation, just the two of them.
He surprised them with a trip to Hawaii. Very, very deserved!
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