Kari and Bill Cox head a large family of mostly adopted children. When one of their adopted children died from a car accident, Kari doubted she could ever open her home to another child. That was until she made a life-altering discovery.

Culloden

Carrie and Bill Cox of Culloden, West Virginia, lead a large family comprising mostly adopted children, many of whom have special needs. Carrie is recognised for her central role in supporting and caring for the family, with her husband Bill acknowledging her significant contribution to their household.

The family’s journey took a tragic turn when their adopted daughter Mary Beth, originally from China and diagnosed with high-functioning autism, died in a car accident while attending university. Following this loss, Carrie expressed doubt about being able to adopt again, citing the immense pain of losing a child.

The turning point for the family came when Carrie discovered a journal written by Mary Beth. In the journal, Mary Beth expressed gratitude for her loving family, describing it as a gift. Motivated by these words, Carrie and Bill decided to adopt four more children, bringing the total number in their care to 14.

Both parents emphasised that the needs of the children they took in outweighed their personal grief. The family continues to care for and support their adopted children, reflecting a commitment to selflessness and inclusivity.



A foster mother's limitless love

I've never been one to air a person's dirty laundry, but in the case of Carrie Cox of Culloden, West Virginia, the sheer volume of her daily load speaks volumes about her capacity for love. Just has an amazing heart. She's like Mother Teresa almost. My mom does 99.9% of the work. My dad does 0.1. A gross exaggeration for sure. Put that somewhere. But even Bill admits that without Carrie, this family of mostly adopted children, many with special needs, would fall to pieces. Do you want to eat more? It's good. This is the story of what keeps her going, what almost made her stop, and the child who changed everything. Thirteen years ago, Carrie and Bill adopted Mary Beth from China. Very high-functioning autism. Extremely black and white. The first time she saw me, she said, oh, I didn't know I was getting a fat mom. That was our relationship with each other, and it was actually phenomenal. And Mary Beth was doing great. Was valedictorian of her class. She had won tons of math awards. Until tragedy struck. It was 2021. Mary Beth was a senior here at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, when she got hit by a car and died. For Carrie, the pain of losing a kid, especially like that, convinced her to never adopt again. Why put yourself through that anymore? You know, I mean, honestly, people that don't have children don't have to feel this pain. The pain outweighed the joy. Yeah, that's what we thought. What changed? Mary Beth changed us. She changed us. From the grave, she changed them. When going through her things, Carrie found a journal where Mary Beth, who'd never been effusive with her feelings, wrote this to herself. God gave you what many may never have. A loving family that will always be here, no matter what. Love you, Marty. Since reading that, Carrie and Bill have taken in four more children to make 14 total. Their need was greater than my pain. Their need was greater than her pain. That's the essence of a mother's instinct. That unwavering selflessness that goes beyond the biological. Mom didn't give birth to me. I didn't. To create something truly divine. I'm still your kid, though. You are.

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