Twelve years ago Scott and Nina Isaacson were featured on the Oprah Winfrey show for adopting seventeen children, many of whom were older and traumatized.   Now, with not one failed adoption, Scott and Nina Isaacson share insights on their joys, their griefs, their triumphs and their journey as a family.

The Isaacsons, unable to have biological children of their own, did not start out intending to adopt seventeen boys and girls.   In the beginning they adopted a single newborn, and then another infant.   In time they became acquainted with three sibling children in fostercare who needed to be together.   The Isaacsons fostered these children and then adopted them.   Gradually the number of adopted children swelled to 9, and at that point the Isaacsons thought they were done.

Then, in 2000,  the couple became aware of a family of eight traumatized children who were being separated in the foster care system because no one could be found who was willing to take on so many children at once.   For these traumatized children, who had always clung to each other for support, their siblings were their only source of stability and comfort.  In an astonishing act of sacrifice and compassion, Scott and Nina chose to adopt them all and kept the children together.

The reaction of those who heard of this adoption was sometimes mixed.   Some, like Oprah, praised them for their heroism and compassion.  Others thought they were naïve, or just crazy.   A few predicted dire consequences.  Only time could show whether the Isaacsons could make good on their promise:  ”We will never give up on you.”

Now, twelve years later, with not one failed adoption, with three sons on LDS missions simultaneously, four children still at home and thirteen grandchildren, the Isaacson couple has proven their commitment and their capacity.

Join us on Healing Talk Radio as Nina shares what she and Scott did to create healing and stability for many of her children who had survived trauma and abuse; what they did to cope with the amazing level of stress and frequent crises of having seventeen children under fifteen years old; how they handled the logistics of so many meals, so many homework assignments, so many soccer games and so many personal needs, and hear Nina’s special message to parents of troubled children.

This program was broadcast live on KHQN, 1480 AM at noon MT on Friday Feb 17.  This program will be simulcast in live streaming video on http://healingtalkradio.utahvalleylive.com.  The program will replay three times daily for a week on Planetary Streams Talk Radio, Web Campus World Wide Radio, and Shoutcast.