A family in Brookfield is getting just a little bit bigger than it already is.
Dan and Lori O'Brien are adopting their 20th foster child on Thursday afternoon. They told TMJ4's Sydni Eure that they've been foster parents for 28 years, and now it's time to pass the baton.
Their children range from 10 to 42 years old and say this 20th and final adoption will make their family complete.
If you're wondering how this family came to be - here it is.
Dan and Lori first met and fell in love while teaching Sunday school together. They said their relationship has always been rooted in their Christian faith and based around caring for children.
"Heavenly Father we thank you for your great love for us," Dan said as he held hands with his family in prayer. "We thank you for how you make room for us and family was your idea.”
Dan and Lori have three biological children and took in their first foster daughter nearly 30 years ago. Now, a total of 26 lives have been forever changed by this couple's unconditional love.
Dan says it wasn't long before they realized there were countless children in Wisconsin that he says had been deemed "unadoptable." The O'Briens felt it was their purpose to step in.
"Eight of our kids are autistic and many of our kids have cognitive disparities along with that," said Lori.
They describe their lives and their household as organized chaos — and a blessing.
"Sometimes it's better calculated than others. We've had kids where sometimes, I've driven home from work and she's on the way out the door to go do chores and I say who's this," Dan recalls. "'Oh well this is Elizabeth, she'll be staying with us. She's a 30 day emergency placement' and I said, 'Well, what's her story?' [And Lori responds,] 'I don't know, I have to go. Give her dinner and show her where she's sleeping.'"
No matter how busy things get, Lori said caring for high needs children will always be their greatest purpose and biggest blessing.
“I think that everybody deserve a forever family and everyone deserves happiness," said Lori. "I don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad child and we just felt the need and it was our ministry to take in kids and help them be overcomes and not victims of their past but overcomes."
She said they'll always be welcomed in their home no matter what.
"We are often asked if we're a group home or we're a foster home," said Lori. "We really just say no this is our family."
And it will be forever. On Thursday, the family will officially welcome 14-year-old Lincoln into their family. They tell me they're excited to meet at the Waukesha County Courthouse to make their family complete.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
