Meet the Lehmkuhl Family!
Lora and Rande Lehmkuhl are parents of five wonderful children, four of whom were foster children they have adopted. Rande has one son from a previous marriage, Jack, who is now 14 years old. The Lehmkuhls desperately wanted children but were unable to conceive and sought the advice of a friend who suggested that they become foster parents. When they asked why she would want to be a foster parent, and later adopt, when her children were ready to graduate from high school, her sweet southern voice replied, “Well, I just wasn’t done motherin’ yet.” Those words stuck with Lora as she considered ways to build her family. Ten months after they were married in October 2000, they started accepting foster children into their home knowing they ultimately wanted to adopt.
Steven, who is now 12, was five when he came to the home. Lora says, “He’s a real survivor and a big hero, but when he first came to us he would cry at night and say, ‘I’m sad at night because my real mommy would put us to bed without breakfast, or lunch, or dinner.’ ” Lora and Rande had to hold him at night to help him get to sleep. Steven would also tell Lora and Rande that his home had no heat—having lived in abandoned homes, trailers, and motels—so his biological mom would take them to her car and warm their hands and feet and then take them back inside to sit near a window.
Meranda, 9, came to the Lehmkuhl home nine months after Steven. She was three, very independent, and had clearly been given adult responsibilities during her short life. Her smile would, and still does, light up the room. She was removed from the custody of her biological father who is currently incarcerated. The Lehmkuhls adopted Meranda on February 27, 2004, and days later learned she had a biological half-sister, Lexi, 6, with whom she shared a mother and whom she had never met. Lexi was just six months old when her biological father left her in a moving vehicle as he fled from the police and nine months old when she came to live with the Lehmkuhls. Through a lengthy process, Lexi had parental rights terminated twice and the State revoked the decision once even though her father was in jail. Fortunately, Lora and Rande were finally able to adopt Lexi in August 2004.
Just when they thought four was enough, Sadie arrived on Mother’s Day weekend of 2003. She was only five pounds when she was two months old. Lora and Rande adopted Sadie in July 2005. Today, they are a happy family with five children, and Jack loves being a big brother. He went from being an only child to being the big brother to three sisters and one brother. He’s a fantastic role model.
Steven, Meranda, and Lexi all have special needs. Rather than rely on post-adoption services, the Lehmkuhls advocate for the needs of the children by utilizing the school system and medical professionals in their community. However, the services are available when and if they cannot find the support they need on their own. For example, Steven has a serious eye deficit and he went through extensive vision therapy, which was not covered. His vision problems are most likely a result of poor care as an infant, little stimulation, and he was not given glasses until he entered foster care. The Lehmkuhls were very lucky to have assistance provided by a medical subsidy to cover the cost of his glasses. The family is thankful for the role adoption has played in their lives: “We talk openly about how each child was chosen and how we are a lucky family because each child has helped make our family more complete.”
Family Portrait Project 2007- Senator Chuck Grassley
