"They have taught me that I have to listen and laugh. I was a very structured nurse with a controlled life - but life can not be controlled."

The Gorenflo Family:

Parents: Les and Rita
Adopted Children: Jonathan, Bryan, Megan, Adrienne, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Dondre

Rita Gorenflo had always wanted a child to call her own and today she has seven! In 1995 Rita, a registered nurse working in the emergency department, was attending a pediatric AIDS seminar when she first learned about public adoption. During the seminar, Rita spoke with a foster mother who adopted terminally ill children with AIDS. Rita realized the little children she cared for everyday were in desperate need of a permanent, loving home that could provide the support these special children needed and began looking into adoption.

"I met Jonathan at Jackson Memorial when he was only a few months old," said Rita. "I knew he had a place in my heart from the moment I saw him." Now 13, Jonathan has survived the odds and is flourishing in the Gorenflo home. In addition to Jonathan, Bryan, Megan and Adrienne joined the Gorenflo home within four years. Rita had brought all the children into her home as infants with major medical needs and today all the children are their own unique individuals.

In 1998, the Gorenflo family grew again. Not with an adoption however, but with a marriage. Les and Rita have been married for ten years and make an amazing team in caring for their seven children. While Les works nights at UPS, Rita has the full time task of caring for the kids. After their marriage, the Gorenflos met Nathaniel, now 10, through a foster parent association meeting. At one-year old, Nathaniel had no place to go but Rita and Les opened their hearts and brought home their fifth child.

With much experience in caring for children with severe medical needs, Thomas, who was non-verbal with extreme sclerosis, came to the Gorenflo home for temporary shelter. However, Rita and Les knew he would need a permanent home that could care for his specific needs and adopted Thomas into their ever-growing family. With six children in the house, Rita and Les thought they were done adopting but there seemed to be a larger plan.

While attending day camp with their six children, the Gorenflos met 8-year old Dondre. "We didn't need another child, but Dondre needed a family and we wanted to provide that for such a sweet and deserving young man," said Rita.

The Gorenflo family was now complete. With seven children in the house, Les and Rita are thankful of others peoples willingness to help their family. From their local school board to the Partners in Care Program, everyone has been extremely supportive of the Gorenflo family.

Rita admits she has learned very much from her children. "They have taught me that I have to listen and laugh. I was a very structured nurse with a controlled life - but life can not be controlled. We teach each child to make good choices and accept the consequences, both good and bad, for any decision they make. Our children are respectful and love their brothers and sisters - which makes Les and me very proud."

Rita continued, "Being parents to our children has given our lives a great sense of purpose." "You just can't beat it," said Rita. "Any family who has the love and commitment to open their homes to these children should; it's worth every minute!"

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