Table of Contents
- Introduction
- No More Kids!
- Two More Brothers
- What’s One More Child?
- What is Down Syndrome?
- Final Thoughts
SHANNON Pinkerton, 54, was at her computer one evening when her youngest son, Cody, then six, pointed at the screen.
“Can we adopt him?” he asked, his eyes focused on a boy with brown hair and hazel eyes. “His name is Joey.”
Proud parents Shannon and Troy with sons Julian and Cameron on their adoption dayCredit: True Life Stories
Shannon, Troy, their six adopted kids, and four biological kids pose for a happy family portrait in 2020Credit: True Life Stories
The boy on the screen was 10 and searching for a family. While most children yearn for a puppy, Cody wanted a brother.
Shannon's heart ached as she gazed at Joey’s photo. She and her husband, Troy Pinkerton, 56, were already raising four children. Little did they know that adopting Joey would ignite their passion for providing homes for children like him.
Over the next 15 years, Shannon and her husband, from Wyoming, USA, welcomed another five young men with Down Syndrome. Some faced additional challenges, including being nonverbal.
Despite the hurdles in their adoption journey, Shannon asserts, “Everyone deserves a family.”
The stay-at-home mom explains: “Being a mother to children with additional needs isn’t always easy, but it’s always rewarding. We can’t imagine life without them. We’ve given them a forever home. Our house is filled with noise and activity, but I love it and couldn’t be prouder of my boys.”
No More Kids!
When Shannon and her husband, Troy, a coal miner, welcomed their son, Cody, 23, they believed he would be their last child. They eagerly anticipated introducing him to his older siblings: Jordan, then 10, Troy, then six, and Hayley, then four. Shannon reflects: “I knew I was fortunate to be a mom of four. Troy insisted, ‘no more,’ but I had always dreamed of having a large family.”
“When Cody was six, he had a friend who was autistic. He adored him and had so much fun together. Years later, when Cody started a new school, he missed him dearly. Then one night, I found Cody sitting at the computer, exploring the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network website.”
“Most little boys request a dog, not a brother. But Troy and I exchanged glances, and our hearts ached for that little boy. We had never discussed adoption, but we knew Joey needed a home and love. We had plenty of both.”
Later that week, in 2009, Shannon and Troy reached out to the adoption agency. They were invited to meet Joey and his foster family. Months later, after much paperwork, Joey moved into their home.
Shannon recalls: “Cody and the kids adored Joey. They were inseparable, and it felt like he had always been part of our family.”
In 2011, two years after Joey joined the family, the adoption center contacted them about another boy with Down syndrome who needed a home.
By then, Shannon and Troy’s eldest had moved out. With an available bedroom, they adopted Trace, 15.
Shannon explains: “He was non-verbal and anxious, quite different from the easy-going Joey. It was more challenging to help him adjust. However, as time passed, we embraced Trace for who he was. While they played games, Trace was content to sit and watch, gently rocking one of his beloved teddy bears.”
Two years later, in 2013, the family received a call from the adoption agency about a new boy, 15-year-old Anthony. Shannon and Troy opened their home once more, placing Anthony in a room with Joey.
Shannon admits: “It wasn’t always a happy family scene. It took time for everyone to adjust. That first week, my wake-up call was Anthony coming in to tell us that Joey had messed up the wardrobe or hadn’t brushed his teeth.”
“It was chaotic all the time. It could be stressful and take its toll. But it was all worthwhile because I loved our large, lively family.”
Two More Brothers
In 2017, the adoption agency informed the family about two brothers who wanted to be placed together. Julian was 14 and had Down syndrome, while Cameron was 17 and had dwarfism and developmental delays.
She shares: “Cameron and Julian had faced a difficult life. It took them much longer to adjust. Cameron had a challenging past. He panicked and feared I would make him leave. I reassured him that I wouldn’t. It broke my heart to see him struggle. I wanted him to understand that he had a forever home with us.”
“Eventually, Cameron began to trust us and realized we were his family and this was his home.”
“He would start cuddling next to Hayley on the sofa to watch Scooby-Doo, while Julian preferred the Hulk. It took time, and it wasn’t easy. But I loved those kids so much that
