One decision many parents don’t think about when they have children is who will take guardianship of their children should they unexpectedly pass away? Such matters can be morbid to talk about, but life can unexpectedly change in an instant. Having wills and guardianship sorted should the unthinkable happen is important for the welfare of the children.
Two mums had to make an incredible decision about guardianship of 6 dear children.
Beth Laitkip, mum of 6, was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago, but found out a month before her death that the cancer had spread to her brain, spinal cord and nervous system. When Ms Laitkip stopped chemotherapy treatments, she asked her friend, Stephanie Culley, already a mother to three, if she would be willing to take guardianship of her 6 children.
Ms Culley told ABC News, “She said, ‘I know you will do this for me, but can you raise nine kids? Can you take my babies, all of them and keep them together?'”
“I said, ‘I don’t know. I have to pray about this, I have to talk to my husband about this’.
“We discussed it as a family and my kids were the first to say yes. They had gotten really close with (Ms Laitkep’s) kids.
“My husband was like a deer in headlights, but he knew that this was what we had to do.”
Beth passed away on 19th May aged 39 years.
An official hearing on July 19 awarded full custody of Ms Laitkep’s children to Ms Culley and her husband.
The couple now officially have 9 children in their care. Will, 15, Selena, 14, Jaxson, 12, Dallas, 10, Lily, five, and Ace, two, now join the couple’s three children, Cole, 10, Hayden, six, and Calen, two.
Stephanie Culley and her Husband with their adopted children.
Patti Nemi, 69, who was Ms Laitkep’s nurse practitioner, was ecstatic with the outcome of the hearing.
“I know it’s exactly what Beth wanted,” Ms Nemi said.
“I was with Beth once she knew Stephanie was going to be responsible. It just made things so much better for her.”
The Culley’s are daunted with the new responsibility of raising 6 extra children.
“When I first realized that I was going to do this I was scared to death, but as we walked this journey, it’s so much better than anything I had in my head,” she said.
“It’s just amazing to watch all these kids interact and love each other so much.”
