They’re Just Spreading the Love!

An Ohio couple has captured hearts across the nation by adopting not one but two sets of twin siblings who had spent years in the foster care system. Their act of love has been praised as a shining example of what family truly means (Good Morning America).

Karen and Tobias Thompson, both from Hamilton County, Ohio, first met in high school. Though life took them down separate paths — each marrying and raising children of their own — fate brought them back together decades later. In 2014, they married, blending two large families into one. Together, they already had seven children, 28 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. “There are always kids at our house. There’s never an empty house over here,” Karen told reporters (Because of Them We Can).

Only a year after their marriage, the couple learned that Karen’s niece and nephew, William and Wilmya, both twins, were in the foster care system. Rather than let them remain separated from family, the Thompsons decided to open their home and their hearts. “No sense splittin’ ’em up. Keep ’em all together,” Tobias said after the adoption was finalized. “Show ’em a lot of love. That’s all they need — love” (Good Morning America).

Their journey didn’t stop there. In 2017, the couple became licensed foster parents, soon welcoming another set of twins — Sharnia and Sharleathea, the younger sisters of William and Wilmya. “We didn’t even know they existed until the caseworker told us,” Tobias said. “But I told Karen, ‘We may as well go ahead and get them too.’” The girls had been moving from one foster home to another, with no stable place to call home (ABC News).

At first, the Thompsons allowed the younger twins to visit on weekends, giving them time to adjust and feel comfortable. Karen recalled, “When Sharnia and Sharleathea came here, they didn’t want to go back. I think they all just needed to be around their siblings.” Over time, the bond between the four children deepened, and the Thompsons made it official — adopting all four siblings and ensuring they would never be separated again (Because of Them We Can).

Today, the kids — now ages 9 and 14 — are thriving. Their home is full of laughter, security, and love. “They were very timid when they got here. They’ve been through a lot,” Tobias said. “Now you can’t get them to stop talking.” Karen added that the transformation has been remarkable: “They all just needed somebody to love them.”

Amber Sawyer, the family’s adoption caseworker with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, described the Thompsons as “the definition of family,” emphasizing how much love and stability they’ve provided. “You can feel the bond in their home,” she said (Good Morning America).

Judge Ralph Winkler, who presided over the adoption, praised the couple as “a great example of what parents should be.” Speaking to the children, he compared their story to the superheroes they admire. “You guys are more like Spider-Man than anything,” he told them, referencing how heroes often come from difficult beginnings but go on to do amazing things (ABC News).

The children affectionately call their adoptive parents “Papa” and “Gigi.” Wilmya recalled the comforting words her papa once told her when she was scared: “I don’t have to be scared, and I don’t have to worry about anything because he’s going to take care of me. And I’m safe.”

Judge Winkler expressed hope that the family’s story would inspire others to open their hearts and homes. “Hopefully you’ll be encouraging people to adopt and take care of your family,” he said. “No matter how it’s built, it’s still your family.”

The Thompsons’ journey is a powerful reminder that love truly makes a family — and that sometimes, all it takes to change a child’s life is someone willing to say yes.