A loving, safe and secure home is one of the greatest gifts to a child. A family makes the house into a home filled with beautiful memories. This family decided to make their life filled with more beautiful memories by doing something incredible.
Pam Willis and her husband Gary Willis, 53, who have 5 grown up children live in Menifee, California, who have been fostering kids for years. One day she was just going through her Facebook feed when she read a news story about seven siblings who ranged in age from 1 to 12 searching for a forever home. After losing both their parents in a terrible rollover car crash the kids were in foster care for more than a year. The moment she saw them she got a feeling that she was supposed to be their mom.
Pam immediately tagged Gary Willis her husband, 53, so he could read it too. She assumed her husband would think of her as being crazy since they have never spoken about adoption. But to Pam’s relief Gary had the same feeling that Pam felt when he read the news too.
In Pam’s words, “It was what God wanted us to do.”
At the end of the story a number was given so the couple did call them and were informed many calls had been made for these children. However, after two months, Pam and Gary were matched with Xander, 4, Leo, 5, Aubriella, 7, Anthony, 8, Aleecia, 9, Ruby, 13 and Adelino, 15.
During their screening process, Pam understood they have experienced a massive deal of trauma. Their late parents suffered with addiction and the family often lived in homeless encampments. Food was also not regular for them.
Pam expressed it was much easier to connect with the little ones compared to the elder two as they were badly searching for permanency.
Pam said, “I think they didn’t quite trust that we were real. Like maybe we were going to go away. I think it’s so hard to trust when so much has been taken from your life. Ruby didn’t know how to be a kid. She had to be a mother figure at a very young age.”
The kids struggled to sleep peacefully for the first six months due to nightmares. At one night Pam recalled her then 7 year old entered the room just to make sure Pam and Gary were still there for them. Pam assuranced her they wouldn’t ever go far from them.
Finally the day came when Pam and Gary adopted Xander and all the other siblings too. Pam and Gary’s biological kids, Sam, 20, Sophia, 23, Alexa, 27, Andrew, 30, Mathew, 32 attended virtually the emotional ceremony.
After Pam shared an Instagram video called “our life in 15 seconds” this wonderful family’s story was noticed by the actor Kristen Bell who was touched by the heartwarming story and posted it on her Instagram story. The video shows Pam and Gary first meeting in 1988 as teens and ends the video with the adoption.
Pam expressed happily and proudly, “They’ve given us a second chance at parenting, we’ve given them a second Mom and Dad. They are our Second Chance 7.”
It’s so refreshing to hear such positive stories with happy endings. Thank you to this wonderful couple for making these kids believe that there are still good people in this world. Do watch the video and share this beautiful story.
