TLC’S Little Couple Adopt Again!

6
Mar

The little couple Zoey

The Little Couple’s Dr. Jen Arnold and Bill Klein have adopted again! People Magazine reports that the stars of the TLC’s hit reality series The Little Couple, adopted their second child, a two year old little girl they named Zoey from India in October of 2013. Their first child Will, now three years old, was adopted from China a year earlier in 2012. Both children, considered children with special needs, are living with skeletal dysplasia (a type of dwarfism), which is the same physical condition both Jen and Bill are coping with as well.

Their joy was overshadowed however, by Jen’s diagnosis of a rare form of cancer, choriocarcinoma, resulting in a hysterectomy to remove a cancerous mass and grueling months enduring intensive chemotherapy in the initial four months after Zoey was brought home from India. During Jen’s cancer treatment and hospitalization, Bill was caring for the toddlers, in addition to worrying about the threat to his wife’s life. Making this time even more difficult for the couple was Zoey’s difficulties with transitioning and adjusting to her new home, family and environment. Zoey had been abandoned at just six weeks of age and had lived her life in an orphanage in India prior to being adopted by Jen and Bill. For a toddler who does not understand the changes that are happening and the strangers who had whisked her away, adjustment can be extremely frightening and difficult.
When the couple first returned to the United States and Jen was being treated, Zoey wanted nothing to do with Bill and would throw herself to the ground and cry for hours at a time. Many months of emotional meltdowns and hours of screaming and crying have finally begun to end. The couple now report that through lots of patience, comfort and love that they are now beginning to see small changes and progress in their daughter with her attachment and adjustment. As Zoey begins to trust her new parents and embrace the idea that they are her forever parents, she has begun to heal from the trauma and learn to accept love and give love, to trust that her parents are there to care and nurture her, to protect her and to love her forever. During this difficult transition time, Bill sought the help of a psychiatrist for advice. This highlights the importance of adoptive families seeking help when they need it. Many adopted children struggle with attachment and adjustment issues. Adoption agencies provide adoption education and resources for families dealing with these difficulties.

Happily, the couple also reports that Will has embraced his new sister and welcomed her whole heartedly into their family, offering to share his cars and popsicles with her. With Jen’s cancer now in remission, the family can focus on continued bonding with Zoey and living their dream of a family of four. A happy congratulations to the Little Couple for completing their second adoption and for beating Jen’s cancer diagnosis!

The Little Couple season premier airs on March 4th at 10 pm and will highlight their trip to India to meet Zoey for the first time.

Photo Credit: @JenArnoldMD

Video Credit: TLC

Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.

Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.