Mother of four encourages others to foster and adopt children

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Denise Lambrianou is the adoption resource program coordinator for the Family Enrichment Center in Bowling Green and is an adoptive and foster parent.

About 18 years ago, she and her husband decided to take in a nine-day old baby boy named Dakota whom they eventually adopted.

A few years later, two little boys, Ricky, four-years-old and Matt, eight years old, joined the family as foster children.

“It’s like we had always known them. When they came in they fit right in with the other one and they all hit it off right off the bat,” said Lambrianou.

Soon after, Dakota’s birth mother had another son, Jax, and the Lambrianou’s took him in right away.

According to the Family Enrichment Center in Bowling Green, there are currently over 9,000 children in foster care, living with a relative or in a group home in the state.

May is National Foster Care month and one family is sharing their story of fostering and adopting children in the area.

Each of the four Lambrianou boys were adopted into the family all the while, 14 other children were coming and going from the home as foster children.

“I asked if they would keep us instead of if we could keep them. You know, I mean, we really love them. You know, we really fell in love with them the moment they stepped foot into the house. But, you know, it hasn’t been an easy road. We have had our share of heartaches. We have had our share of, you know, we are like any other, I think one thing people don’t understand is that foster and adoptive parents are like any other parent,” said Lambrianou.

Now, the eldest son is married and has a baby girl and the youngest son is 15 years old.

Lambrianou says fostering and adopting all four boys is one of the best choices she has ever made.

If you have any interesting in becoming a foster parent, contact the Family Enrichment Center in Bowling Green and find out how you can get qualified to help children in the area.