A woman has revealed her fostering and adoption journey after taking in 17 kids following fertility struggles – and now, she’s pregnant.
Brittany Tyler, 38, had longed for a baby of her own with husband, Chris, 44.
Sadly, though, after a year of trying and spending £15,000 on IVF, along with suffering a miscarriage, it wasn’t looking likely for them.
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The couple decided to explore fostering, and after welcoming their first child, Judah, who was one at the time, they were hooked on helping as many other kids as possible.
Since then, they’ve fostered 16 more children and officially adopted four into their large brood.
And while their lives have become extremely hectic, with no spare time in their diaries, they wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Our lives have changed drastically since it was just the two of us – but at the same time, we finally have what we’ve always wanted,” the foster parent told What’s The Jam.
“It’s always very busy.
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“We practically have something in the calendar every single day.
“Before we had kids, we spent a lot more time hanging out with friends or going on dates.
“We also love to travel, which was a lot easier, too.
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“I feel like we never have a dull moment, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Brittany and Chris, from Kentucky, US, first met on a blind date and just six months later, they tied the knot.
She knew conceiving would be a tricky task due to her diagnosis as a teen with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
But as the pair had “so much love to give” they were determined to satisfy their calling.
In May 2017, they opened their doors to give more children a happy home.
While it wasn’t easy taking care of other people’s children, the rewarding feeling of seeing them thrive was all worth it.
So much so, that Brittany and Chris vowed to adopt any kids that weren’t able to be reunited with their families.
They went on to adopt Judah, now nine, and another boy called Calvin, now aged six, and decided that was their limit for now.
Until they spotted a story about a baby who had been left at a fire station near their home called Samuel.
She said: “I hoped that we got the call to take him in – and my wish came true.
“He was just two days old when he was placed in a shoebox and a handwritten note explaining that his mum wasn’t able to care for him properly.
“It broke my heart.
“As he had been surrendered, we were able to adopt him as our own.
“In a family tradition, we took him to Build-A-Bear, where he made a firefighter one to take home with him.”
Now, the pair have settled on becoming a foster home for infants with medically complex needs, as they say there is a “big need” in that area.
They still remain in contact with those they have returned to their respective families and often look them up online to see how they’re doing.
Brittany and Chris, who settled on just fostering, were then swayed again to adopt when they got a call about a baby girl who suffers from neonatal abstinence syndrome, which causes difficulty when feeding, leaving her needing a tube.
On National Adoption Day, 24 November 2024, Vivienne officially became their fourth child.
And the pair have even more to celebrate, as they recently found out they were pregnant.
Brittany and Chris were expecting twins, but sadly, at nine weeks, she lost one of them.
Now, though, she’s 16 weeks and is excited to welcome their long hoped for arrival.
Brittany added: “Fostering and adopting is the best decision we’ve ever made.
“I can’t imagine my life any other way.
“It’s not been easy, but it’s been so worth it to make even the smallest difference in these kids’ lives – even if only for a few days.
“I’ve got what I’ve always wanted; a house filled with kids and love.
“Once we started fostering, I was able to quit my job, clear our debt and stay home with the kids, while Chris moved into a role working remotely.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what I’d do with my time now if I didn’t have kids.
“I’m so grateful for them – and for our new addition.
“As soon as the test showed two pink lines, I couldn’t believe it.
“Our dreams were finally coming true.
“The first scan showed twins and we were overjoyed at the thought of not just one, but two sweet babies.
“Sadly, though, one baby didn’t continue to grow and we were devastated to hear this news.
“But we’re so grateful the surviving twin is doing well and growing strong.
“The kids are so excited to have a new baby on the way.
“They ask every day how they’re doing and have been giving me suggestions for names.
“If you’re considering fostering, don’t wait.
“There are so many children that need a loving home to go to and not nearly enough homes to place them all in.
“I’ll be the first to admit it’s not easy, but these kids don’t have a chance – and need somewhere safe.”
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