A single gay man, who has previously adopted five kids with disabilities, has added another child to his growing family. Ben Carpenter, 37, from Huddersfield in the U.K., is still planning to expand and give the most vulnerable children bright futures.
Carpenter first adopted Jack, a child with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as a 21-year-old single dad. Jack is now in his teens, and his father is proud of his growth and development. Then he became the adopted father of Ruby, who has Pierre Robin syndrome, and her biological half-sister, Lily, who is deaf.
Per Goalcast, Carpenter has enough experience as a carer for kids with disabilities as he works in the special needs industry. He is also adept in sign language, so he could easily communicate with Lily.
He then adopted his fourth child, Joseph, who has Down syndrome and colostomy issues. He also took in Noah, his fifth adoptee, diagnosed with a rare condition called Cornelia de Lange syndrome. The family also fondly named him Teddy as the youngest.
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Losing Noah, Gaining Louis
Sadly in November 2019, Noah's life was cut short due to his condition. Carpenter was devastated by the loss. The devoted father said that he harbored some guilt because he felt that there was something else he could have done to save his son's life.
Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a child's physical growth and intellectual maturity. According to the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Centre, they may also experience congenital heart defects, gastrointestinal problems, and autism.
After what happened to Noah, Carpenter felt he could not adopt another child with a disability until he could process his grief. However, even before Noah died, he was actually in the middle of arranging the adoption of Louis, a blind child with cerebral palsy.
In April 2020, Carpenter welcomed his sixth child into the family as he realized that, despite his grief, there is a boy that needs to have someone who will love and care for him.
Dreaming of a Big Family
Speaking with The Mirror, Carpenter said that he always knew that he wanted to have many kids but did not consider becoming a dad biologically because "being a parent is so much more than that." He acknowledged that adoption is challenging, and there were instances when he felt that he would not be approved.
For his devotion to his kids, Carpenter was shortlisted as a "Family Carer of the Year" in 2021 by Sense, a national disability charity in the U.K. He said that he is "blown away" by the recognition, but he is prouder of the fact that his kids with disabilities are thriving and learning to be independent. He has also achieved raising funds for a multi-sensory room in his family house for his kids to enjoy.
Despite losing Noah, Carpenter said that he will always see himself as a dad of six.
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