Education

Adopting 24 Kids From 8 Countries: The Unfiltered Reality

Aug 20, 2025
By, Donna Pope

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Dr Holly Richardson on Eternal Family Adoptions. If you missed Part 1, where Dr. Holly shared her journey adoption journey across 8 countries; be sure to read that first.

In part two of this compelling series on the Eternal Family Adoptions podcast, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam continue their in-depth conversation with Dr. Holly Richardson, one of America's most experienced international adoption advocates. Richardson has created one of the largest international adoption families in U.S. history with 24 children total—20 of whom were adopted from eight different countries. This continuing episode dives deeper into the unfiltered realities that emerged over her 35-year journey navigating adoption processes across Romania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Guatemala, Zambia, Ethiopia, Australia, and the United States.

Building on the foundation established in part one, this episode reveals the long-term challenges that Richardson faced as her adopted children reached adulthood. Beyond her role as an adoptive mother, Richardson has established herself as a political advocate and education leader, earning her PhD in political science at age 57, serving in the Utah legislature, and currently hosting a daily political radio show for KSL. Her unique combination of personal adoption experience and political expertise provides unprecedented insights into both the practical and policy aspects of international adoption that few families ever achieve.

This continuation of Richardson's story addresses the harsh realities that adoption agencies rarely discuss with prospective families. At a time when "international adoption numbers have plummeted by over 94% since 2004—from 22,987 adoptions to just 1,275 in 2023" according to data from the U.S. State Department, her experiences provide crucial guidance for navigating an increasingly complex landscape. Part two focuses specifically on special needs care, reactive attachment disorder, adult children struggling with mental health and addiction, and the ongoing challenges of parenting adopted children who sometimes blame their adoptive parents for removing them from their birth countries.

The Scale and International Scope of Modern Adoption

Richardson's adoption journey unfolded during a golden era of international adoption that has largely ended. As President Gordon B. Hinckley taught in 1994, "When marriage is not possible, experience has shown that adoption, difficult though this may be for the young mother, may afford a greater opportunity for the child to live a life of happiness." Between 1999 and 2014, American families adopted 256,135 children internationally, with countries like China, Russia, Guatemala, and Ethiopia serving as major sources for adoptive families. However, political changes, economic improvements in sending countries, and tightened regulations have dramatically reduced opportunities. According to Pew Research, "adoptions from the five major sending countries have driven 88% of the total decline since 2004."

The Richardson family's adoptions spanned this transitional period, allowing them to witness firsthand how international policies changed adoption landscapes. Countries where they successfully adopted—including Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Guatemala—subsequently closed their programs to international families entirely. Russia banned American adoptions in 2013 due to diplomatic tensions, while Guatemala suspended new adoptions in 2007 following reports of fraud and corruption. These policy shifts left thousands of potential adoptive families without pathways to complete their planned adoptions.

Richardson's experience navigating eight different country systems demonstrates the complexity and variation in international adoption requirements. Each country demanded different documentation, imposed varying age restrictions, and required different lengths of in-country stays. Her final international adoption from Ethiopia involved traveling independently without agency assistance, showcasing the level of expertise she developed through years of experience. This expertise became increasingly valuable as agencies struggled to adapt to changing regulations and shrinking program options across multiple countries.

Managing Special Needs and Medical Challenges

The Richardson family's adoption focus expanded significantly to include children with various special needs, a decision that opened doors to children who might otherwise have aged out of orphanage systems. President Gordon B. Hinckley's counsel resonates deeply with this reality: "My plea...is a plea to save the children. Too many of them walk with pain and fear, in loneliness and despair. Children need sunlight...They need kindness and refreshment and affection. Every home, regardless of the cost of the house, can provide an environment of love which will be an environment of salvation." National Survey of Adoptive Parents research shows that 39% of adopted children have special health care needs compared to 19% in the general population, and Richardson's family experienced this reality firsthand. Their willingness to adopt children with physical disabilities, medical conditions, and emotional trauma provided homes for some of the most vulnerable children in international orphanage systems.

Medical challenges in the Richardson household ranged from physical disabilities to life-threatening conditions. One adoption involved a baby born missing most of her brain, with medical professionals providing virtually no hope for survival. Another child was born in congestive heart failure due to prenatal methamphetamine exposure, requiring seven weeks in newborn intensive care with only a 5% survival chance. Richardson discovered that accepting these medical challenges required both spiritual preparation and practical readiness to provide complex ongoing care that many families would find overwhelming.

The long-term outcomes for Richardson's special needs adoptions demonstrate that appropriate support can enable these children to thrive beyond initial medical predictions. Her daughter adopted from Kazakhstan, who would have been institutionalized due to physical disabilities in her birth country, now lives independently as a mother of two children. These success stories reflect broader research from the National Survey of Adoptive Parents, which shows that 85% of adopted children are in excellent or very good health, despite higher rates of special health care needs requiring ongoing attention and resources. As President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, "How much more beautiful would be the world and the society in which we live if...every mother regarded her children as the jewels of her life, as gifts from the God of heaven, who is their Eternal Father, and brought them up in true affection in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord."

Long-term Realities of Adult Adopted Children

Richardson's perspective on adoption extends far beyond placement and early childhood adjustment, encompassing the complex realities of parenting adult children who carry lasting effects from their early experiences. Research article on Church4EveryChild.org references the 2007 National Adoptive Parents Report which indicates that, children adopted from foster care show particularly high rates of attachment disorders at 21%, and Richardson experienced this challenge with multiple children whose early trauma manifested in ongoing difficulties forming healthy relationships. Three of her children developed reactive attachment disorder severe enough to impact their adult functioning, often presenting as borderline personality disorder in adulthood.

The emotional complexities of adult adopted children include ongoing questions about identity, belonging, and birth family connections that can persist throughout their lives. Some of Richardson's adult children continue to struggle with resentment about being removed from their birth countries, viewing their adoption as a loss rather than a rescue. Others battle mental health issues, addiction problems, and difficulty maintaining stable employment or relationships. Richardson learned that parenting outcomes cannot be controlled through love and good intentions alone, requiring acceptance that some children's paths will include significant ongoing struggles.

Despite these challenges, many of Richardson's adult children have achieved remarkable success and stability. The three children adopted in 1996, now all 29 years old, own their own homes and are starting families of their own. Her son from Ethiopia recently reconnected with biological siblings through social media, leading to plans for a wedding in Ethiopia that will include both adoptive and biological family members. These positive outcomes demonstrate that successful adoption relationships can coexist with ongoing connections to birth families and cultural origins, creating expanded support networks rather than competing loyalties.

Financial and Practical Strategies for Large Families

Managing the costs associated with raising 24 children required creative financial planning and intentional lifestyle choices that prioritized family growth over material possessions. International adoption costs estimates according to FCADOptions.org, "The cost of international adoption depends on which country you’re adopting from. It could cost anywhere from $25,000 to $70,000. With such a wide range, it can be helpful to speak to your adoption professional so they can provide an accurate estimate for you," making Richardson's 20 international adoptions represent a significant financial commitment. The family developed strategies that other large adoptive families could implement to make adoption financially feasible:

Key Financial Strategies for Large Adoptive Families:

Transportation Solutions: Purchase used vehicles and invest in large passenger vans rather than multiple car payments
Vacation Planning: Buy touring buses and camping equipment to accommodate large group travel
Food Production: Maintain large gardens, can seasonal produce, and cook from scratch to reduce grocery costs
Housing Priorities: Choose larger homes in less expensive areas rather than luxury neighborhoods
Career Timing: Plan adoptions around stable employment while accepting delayed retirement planning

The most significant aspect of their financial approach involved moving forward in faith when they felt spiritually directed to adopt, even when immediate financial resources were not apparent. Richardson reports that financial provision consistently appeared when needed, sometimes through small unexpected sources and occasionally through larger financial assistance. This approach required careful budgeting and sacrifice of typical lifestyle expectations, including delayed retirement planning that now extends their working years into their seventies.

Practical management of daily life with 24 children demanded systems and efficiencies that evolved through necessity. Thanksgiving dinner required four tables pushed together to seat 20 people at once, while Christmas gift exchange involved complex coordination systems to ensure fairness across age ranges and family dynamics. Richardson stopped making homemade Christmas pajama pants when the count reached 35 pairs, recognizing the need to adjust traditions as family size exceeded practical limitations. These adaptations demonstrate that large family success requires flexibility and willingness to modify traditional approaches to accommodate unique circumstances.

Building Your Adoption Family in Today's Reality

Richardson's journey demonstrates that international adoption, while increasingly challenging, remains achievable for families with dedication, proper preparation, and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. Her success in building a family across eight countries over three decades proves that bureaucratic obstacles, financial constraints, and emotional challenges can be overcome through careful planning and persistent effort. The key lies in approaching international adoption as a long-term commitment that extends far beyond the initial placement process, requiring ongoing support systems and realistic expectations about outcomes.

As Fred Riley, former commissioner of LDS Family Services, explained: "From the time of Adam, adoption has been a priesthood ordinance. It's a principle of the gospel that probably all of us will experience at some point as we're literally adopted into our Heavenly Father's kingdom." This eternal perspective provides the foundation for understanding adoption not merely as a social service but as a sacred principle that reflects divine love and family creation.

A report from USA Facts, state that, international adoption numbers reach historic lows, with International adoption decreasing by 93% from 2004 to 2022, hence, modern families considering adoption are facing a narrowing window of opportunity as most countries continue to restrict and discontinue their adoption programs Richardson's experience suggests that families should act decisively when they feel called to adoption rather than waiting for perfect circumstances that may never arrive. Her story offers both inspiration and practical guidance for families ready to expand their hearts and homes across international boundaries, demonstrating that extraordinary families can be built through faith, determination, and willingness to embrace children with complex needs.

The children waiting in orphanages worldwide need families willing to navigate complex systems and make necessary sacrifices to provide permanent homes and family connections. Richardson's story proves that love truly multiplies rather than divides, and that families built through adoption can create lasting bonds that span continents and cultures. The time to begin your adoption journey is now, before remaining international opportunities disappear entirely.

Listen to Dr. Richardson's complete story on the Eternal Family Adoptions podcast for additional insights about international adoption realities. Your future child may be waiting in an orphanage today, ready to join a family that will love them for eternity. Your journey toward building an eternal family through adoption starts today. Visit eternalfamilyadoptions.org to subscribe to our newsletter, access free resources, and connect with a community of families who share your faith and values. Don't let another day pass wondering "what if," your child may be waiting for you right now.

Follow or Subscribe to Eternal Family Adoptions on your favorite platform: