[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> THE FAMILY YOURE ABOUT TO
MEET WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO BE A BETTER PERSON. YOU WANT TO BE A
BETTER PERSON. STACY AND DARREN HAVE ADOPTED
FOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
WHEN A GROUP OF KIDS POINTED AND STARED AT ONE OF THEIR ADOPTEDND
STARED AT ONE OF THEIR ADOPTED SONS, LEAVING HIM IN TEARS,
STACY STEPPED UP WITH A BLOG POST THAT MADE PARENTSA BLOG
POST THAT MADE PARENTS EVERYWHERE STAND UP AND LISTEN.
WATCH THIS.
WATCH THIS. THIS IS TEAM GAGNON.
BAILEY
BAILEY
BAILEY, SILAS, ISAAC, ELLIE, JOEL, ISRAEL., ISAAC, ELLIE,
JOEL, ISRAEL. AND PARENTS, STAYSCY AND DARREN.
A PARTY OF EIGHT, BROUGHT
TOGETHER NOT JUST BY LOVE, BUT
BY DIFFERENCES AND DISABILITIES.
>> BAILEY, WE HOLD HER
RESPONSIBLE.
RESPONSIBLE.
>> Reporter: BAILEY, THE OLDEST, WAS BORN WITH A RARE HEARTLDEST,
WAS BORN WITH A RARE HEART CONDITION.
CONDITION.
>> WE DIDNT KNOW IF SHE WOULD
MAKE IT OR NOT.
>> SHES THE ONE THAT WE LEARNED HOW TO HANDLE MEDICAL STUFFRNED
HOW TO HANDLE MEDICAL STUFF WITH.
WITH.
>> Reporter: AFTER HAVING SILAS WHO WAS HEALTHY, STACY MADE THE
DECISION TO BECOME A NURSE.
AND THEY BEGAN FOSTERING
MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN.
>> THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE
ANYONE IN.
ANYONE IN.
>> Reporter: SIGHISAAC WAS ONE O THE FIRST FOSTERS.SAAC WAS ONE O
THE FIRST FOSTERS. >> HE WAS SO BROKEN WHEN HE
CAME.
CAME.
>> Reporter: SKULL FRACTURES AND
BRAIN INJURIES.
HE HAD A 50/50 CHANCE OF
SURVIVAL.
THERE WAS LITTLE HOPE HE WOULD
FUNCTION NORMALLY.
NOW, TEN YEARS LATER, HES IN THE GIFTED PROGRAM AT HIS IN
THE GIFTED PROGRAM AT HIS SCHOOL.
SCHOOL.
HE WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD BECOME A MISSION OF LOVE.
>> ITS ALMOST ADDICTING.
HOLY
HOLY
HOLY COW, LOOK AT WHAT LOVE CAN
DO.
>> Reporter: ELLIE WAS THOUGHT
TO BE TOO SICK FOR ADOPTION. >> SHES JUST THE HAPPIEST KID
YOU EVER MET IN YOUR LIFE.
>> Reporter: JOEL, THE FIFTH
CHILD WAS BORN WITH K
IMPAIRMENT.
IMPAIRMENT.
WITHOUT AN EAR AND HEARING LOSS. >> HE HAS SEVERE DISABILITIES.S.
>> HE HAS SEVERE DISABILITIES. BUT HE DOESNT LET THOSE DEFINE
WHO HE SPP.
>> Reporter: THAT DOESNT MEAN,
HE DOESNT HAVE TOUGH TIMES.
>> WHEN WE WALKED IN THE DOOR,
EVERY KID IN THE WHOLE CLASS
STOPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING,
TURNED WERE POINTING AND HAD
JUST LOOKS OF ALMOST DISGUST ON
THEIR FACE.
THEIR FACE.
AND HE LOOKED AT ALL THEM AND
THEN JUST RAN TO THE BACK OF THE CLASSROOM AND PUT HIS HEAD INTHE
CLASSROOM AND PUT HIS HEAD IN HIS ARMS.
HIS ARMS. >> Reporter: STACY WROTE ABOUT
THAT HARD DAY ON FACEBOOK, A
POST THAT HAS BEEN SHARED ALMOST
30,000 TIMES.
30,000 TIMES. PEOPLE POSTING PICTURES OF THEIR
DISABLED CHILDREN IN SUPPORT.
AND STARTING #JOELSFRIENDS.
>> IT HELPS HIM REALIZE HES NOT
ALONE IN THIS.
>> MY ROOM.
>> Reporter: BUT PERHAPS THE
GREATEST TEST OF LOVE AND FAITH
HAS BEEN ISRAEL.
>> I WALKED INTO THAT ORPHANAGE
AND IT WAS DYING BAYBIES.
IT WAS DEAD-SILENT DYING BABIES.
>> Reporter: HE WAS IN AN
ORPHANAGE IN BULGARIA.
HE WAS PARALYZED FROM THE
WAIST-DOWN.
WAIST-DOWN.
AT 4 YEARS OLD, DIDNT KNOW HOW TO CHEW AND HAD NEVER BEEN HOW
TO CHEW AND HAD NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE.
OUTSIDE.
>> THE FIRST FEW NIGHTS, WE JUST
LOOKED AT EACH OTHER LIKE, WE
DONT KNOW IF WE CAN DO THAT. >> Reporter: BUT THE GAGNON.
>> Reporter: BUT THE GAGNON CREDO IS LOVE.
AND THE SPARK IN ISRAEL,
UNDENIABLE.
UNDENIABLE.
>> YOURE ONE PERSON IN THIS HUGE, YOU KNOW, WORLD. THIS
HUGE, YOU KNOW, WORLD. BUT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> Reporter: A FAMILY CONNECTED
BY THE HEART.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE ARE HONORED TO BE JOINED BY JOELS PARENTS, STACY ANDNED BY
JOELS PARENTS, STACY AND PARENT.
PARENT.
WELCOME TO YOU BOTH. I SEE THAT PACKAGE AND YOURE
LIKE A COUPLE OF ANGELS.
YOURE LIKE TWO ANGELS, RESCUING
THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WHO HAD
BEEN ALL-BUT FORGOTTEN.
THE STORY OF JOEL RESONATED WITH
SO MANY PEOPLE WHEN YOU MADE THE
FACEBOOK POST.
FACEBOOK POST.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT HOW HE FELT.
HOW HE WAS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. WAS HIDING IN PLAIN
SIGHT.
YOU CANT HIDE IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE.T HIDE IN A ROOM FULL OF
PEOPLE.
PUTTING HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS SO
THEY COULDNT MAKE FUN OF HIM.
TELL US WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU
BROUGHT HIM OUT OF THE ROOM AND
INTO THE CHURCH. >> HE DREW ON MY HAND, JOEL
LOVES MOM.
LOVES MOM. AND I -- I JUST AT THAT POINT, I
FELT LIKE I HAD FAILED HIM.
WE HAD BEEN PROACTIVE IN EDUCATE
EDUCATING AND GOING IN FRONT OF
HIM AND EXPLAINING TO KIDS.
I DONT EXPECT THAT MY CHILDREN
WONT BE LOOKED AT.
THATS NOT MY EXPECTATION.
BUT WERE SO PROACTIVE IN GOING
OUT AND EDUCATING FAMILIES AND
KIDS AND OTHER KIDS WHAT
DIFFERENT IS, AND I HADNT DONE
IT THAT DAY.
FOR ME, I FELT LIKE I HAD FAILED
HIM.
HE IS ALSO GETTING OLDER.
AND HES AWARE, NOW. I THINK THAT WAS WHAT WAS HARD
FOR US THAT DAY.
>> JUST THAT PICTURE OF WHAT HE
WROTE.
WROTE.
AND THE LOVE A CHILD FEELS FOR HIS PARENT, WERE ALWAYS TRYING
TO PROTECT THEM AND LOOK OUT FOR
THEM.
THEM.
IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU KNEW HE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED.U KNEW
HE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. BUT YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHER
PARENTS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE,
WHICH IS WHAT?
>> I WAS A TEACHER BEFORE I WENT
BACK TO SCHOOL TO BE A NURSE.
AND IM LEARNING AS A PARENT,
THAT YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL,
AND TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO BE
KIND.
KIND. YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL TO
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO SERVE AND
OTHER PEOPLE.
OTHER PEOPLE. WE PUSH OUR KIDS TO ACHIEVE IN
ATHLETICS AND ACADEMICS AND ALL
AREAS OF LIFE.
BUT WERE NOT TEACHING THEM THE
MOST IMPORTANT LESSON IN LIFE
AND THATS COMPASSION.
THERES A BEAUTIFUL QUOTE BY
ELIE WIESEL WHO WAS A HOLOCAUST
SURVIVAL.
SURVIVAL.
WHO SAYS THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS NOT HATE.THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS
NOT HATE.
ITS A DIFFERENCE. WE TEACH OUR KIDS, DONT STARE.
WE SHOULD TEACH THEM, DONT JUST
NOT STARE.
NOT STARE. DONT JUST STAND BACK WHEN
BULLYING HAPPENS.
BULLYING HAPPENS. YOU NEED TO BECOME INVOLVED AND
NEED TO GET IN THERE AND BECOME
A FRIEND.
A FRIEND. >> YOU SAY, WE SHOULD SHOW OUR
KIDS PICTURES OF KIDS, WITH
DISABILITIES AND FACIAL
DEFORMITIES AND SAY THIS IS ALSO
HOW KIDS LOOK, SO ITS NOT --
THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ALSO ON US
TO GET PEOPLE, DARREN, USED TO
SEEING OTHERS WHO DONT LOOK
LIKE THEM.
LIKE THEM. >> COULD YOU IMAGINE BEING HERE,
JUST WITHOUT MAKEUP AND ALL OF
THE OTHER THINGS?
>> NOPE.
>> NOPE. >> I MEAN, BEING IN FRONT OF
PEOPLE IS A HARD THING.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOURE
MISSING AN EAR AND YOU KNOW YOU
LOOK DIFFERENT.
LOOK DIFFERENT. THERES A LOT OF TIMES JOEL
ASKED US, WHY DID GOD MAKE ME
WITHOUT AN EAR, RIGHT?
AS A PARENT, YOU GO, THATS A
TOUGH ONE.
TOUGH ONE.
WITH ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVING
DIFFERENCES, WE CAN POINT AT
OTHERS, HERE ARE OTHERS.
WE HAVE OUR OWN DIFFERENCES.
WE HAVE THINGS THAT LOOK
DIFFERENT.
ITS TOUGH FOR JOEL NOW.
HES GETTING OLDER.
HE RECOGNIZES THAT, YEAH. THIS IS DIFFERENT., YEAH.
THIS IS DIFFERENT. AND THE DOCTORS HAVE SAID, WE
CAN MAKE AN EAR.
THEY CAN MOLD HIM A NEW EAR.
SO, HE ASKED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
AND HE SAID, WHAT WOULD THAT
LOOK LIKE?
LOOK LIKE?
WHAT WOULD I HAVE TO DO?
WE CAN SAY, WE CAN GIVE YOU A
PUPPY DOG EAR.
WE SAID IT WOULD BE A COUPLE SURGERIES. WOULD BE A COUPLE
SURGERIES.
TWO OR THREE SURGERIES. PROBABLY NOT.SURGERIES.
PROBABLY NOT.
THERES A TRADE-OFF. >> YOURE GOING TO LET HIM MAKE
THE CHOICE?
THE CHOICE? >> ITS HIS CHOICE.
COSMETICALLY FOR HIM WHAT HE
WANTS.
WANTS.
AND ITS A TOUGH SERIES OF SURGERIES.TOUGH SERIES OF
SURGERIES.
>> JIMMY CARTER ONCE SAID ONE OF HIS LESSONS IN LIFE, WHEN AT THE
POINT YOU THINK YOU CAN DO NO
MORE, YOU CAN.
AND YOU TWO ARE AN EXAMPLE OF