Justin and Kasey Padgett of Danville became the adoptive parents of Hailey, Jayden, Alexis, and Jase. All under 17.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, Justin was a fifth-grade elementary school teacher when Jayden was placed in his class.
Jayden was in foster care and his parents worked at Justin‘s school.
Justin had started tutoring Jayden when one day, the fifth grader typed on his computer that he needed to be adopted after learning his birth parents would not regain custody.
Justin then went home and to speak with his wife, Kasey, about adopting Jayden….and his three siblings.
Her answer, “I had been praying for a really long time to be a mom.”
She was immediately onboard with the idea given that the couple had infertility issues.
Kasey added, “Everybody wants a newborn, and teenagers and older children get neglected. So, if we adopted or foster again, I would be open to all ages, and that way we could help someone in need if we can.”
The couple finalized the adoption of Jayden and his siblings in March 2022, and since then, their story has gone viral, garnering national attention.
The couple said they would still pursue having biological children, but they’re also open to adopting more children, encouraging other couples to consider that route as well.