25 may not be enough
Mike Sciacca
At first glance, Ann Belles’ and Jim Silcock’s home in suburbia looks
like many of the other area houses.
The neat abode is the largest home tucked away on this well-kept
cul-de-sac. Inside, children busy themselves with homework and other
projects at kitchen tables, while the enticing smell of what was
cooking for dinner wafts down hallways adorned with numerous family
photos.
But a closer look at this unique home reveals that it does,
indeed, hold something special.
Belles, 40, and Silcock, 41, have adopted 25 children during the
five-plus years they have been married, their two most recent
additions joining their family home on Oct. 1.
They are the legal parents of each, have no biological children of
their own, and also own three dogs -- each a shelter rescue.
“There’s never a dull moment around here,” Silcock said, with a
light chuckle. “But, you know, this is the best thing we’ve ever done
in our lives. All of these guys need someone to love them, help them
along the way.”
All 25 adopted children are male and carry the last name, Silcock.
Twenty of them live at home, the other five -- now of adult age --
reside in the community through supported living.
There are four sets of brothers, including the recent addition of
brothers William and Jimmy, and one set of twins among the group.
Additionally, each of their children has some type of disability,
such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Leigh’s Disease, Muscular
Dystrophy, mental illness, autism, deafness or visual impairment.
“We took kids who we were told were ‘un-adoptable,’ those who had
a life in foster care, and moved them from a foster family to a
forever family,” Belles said.
“Jim and I are comfortable in the fact that the kids don’t have to
bond with us. Some bond right away with one or more of their new
siblings, who tend to take their new brothers under their wings, and
others, might bond with one of the dogs first. It takes time for them
to bond with us but we don’t mind that at all.”
There are several nationalities among the 25 children, who were
adopted both domestically and internationally.
A majority of the children come from California and three arrived
in Huntington Beach from their home countries of Romania, Estonia and
Russia.
All but one -- who is immune compromised and is home schooled,
attend local schools.
Belles said she knew she wanted to adopt children after she saw
the movie classic, “Oliver,” as a child.
“After we left the movie, I told my mom that I wanted to adopt
boys,” she explained. “Nobody really took me seriously but I did
thorough research on adoption and learned all about what it entailed.
All these years and 25 children later, what I told my mother has come
true.”
Belles said she began her journey when she became a foster parent
at age 19 -- to a 17-year-old girl.
“It was a great experience,” she said. “Doing something like
adoption, being a foster parent, really is a lifestyle. For Jim and
I, it is a lifestyle that is very, very rewarding.”
Silcock is more than able to help oversee the family with Belles,
despite being a quadriplegic as a result from a shallow water diving
accident in 1987.
He does not have full use of his hands.
As you walk through the house, you notice smiles everywhere -- and
plenty of busy hands.
Through additions and recent remodeling projects, the two-story
home -- purchased by Belles in 1989 when it was a three bedroom, two
bath home -- now has nine bedrooms and three baths with plenty of
room for all to operate.
Rooms -- many the size of a master bedroom -- hold anywhere from
two to four siblings, and most have bunk beds as well as a television
set.
Money to run and renovate the home, Silcock said, has come from
Social Security, the Adopted Assistance Program, Medical and
Medicare.
“I have a lot of fun in this house,” said son, Phillip, 10, who
came to Huntington Beach from Siberia and can speak Russian fluently.
“I don’t have a mom in Russia, so I like living here.
“I like my brothers and our game room,” he said. “I also like to
play sports, like play basketball and watch the Lakers. I have a good
time here.”
The Silcock children are involved in local sports programs such as
soccer, basketball, karate, swim club and wrestling.
Three children hold Screen Actors Guild cards and have acted and
appeared on such noteworthy television shows such as “Malcom in the
Middle” and “Judging Amy.”
There are 10 phone numbers in the house and two sons have cell
phones. There is hallway cabinet strictly used for storing the
children’s required medications, and the Belles/Silcock office
contains a fax machine and on one wall hangs various important
paperwork such as work, school and bus schedules, doctor’s
appointments and a birthday calendar.
Belles said that anywhere between 25 to 30 loads of laundry are
done daily in a pair of washer/dryer machines.
“We manage to keep our sanity through all this,” Silcock said.
“It’s imperative that we keep organized and stay on top of everything
and, we do.”
Silcock oversees the cooking and up to 14 adults -- from
volunteers to paid support, like nurses, and a speech and massage
therapist, who is funded by Belles and Silcock, offer their services
throughout a typical week.
But today, there will be a break from home life as five vans and
an ACCESS bus will transport a party of 40 from the Belles/Silcock
family, their friends and even biological parents of some of their
adopted children, to the family’s annual Thanksgiving Day trip to
Knott’s Berry Farm.
There will be a dual celebration today, as son, Victor, turns 16.
“Thanksgiving is a day to all be together but we don’t want to
spend the entire day cleaning the kitchen,” Belles joked.
“Today I will remember that I got to live what was my passion.
Every night, when I go to bed, I feel good that I was able to do
something good for others.”
* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at
(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.
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