Like that of most parents, the
home of John and Jeanette
Murphy is filled with pictures
of thei beloved children. That’s a lot of
frames when you are Mom and Dad to
a family of 27.
The Murphys, already the parents of four, have opened up their home to 23 children with Down Syndrome since adopting their daughter Shannon in 1983.
Despite their children’s special needs, John and Jeanette strive to teach their brood – ranging in age from 13 months to 34 years – independence, teamwork and the skills necessary to grow into thriving adults, while experiencing as normal a childhood as possible.
They school the young children at home and teach them sign language to help them communicate. Afternoons and weekends are spent roller-blading, hiking and taking field trips to the zoo. And they always find the energy to make a home-cooked breakfast every morning.
The Murphys’ story began when John and Jeanette were volunteering at a home for mentally handicapped adults. They came to believe that a strong family environment might be beneficial for youngsters facing similar handicaps. Later that same year, they were overjoyed to adopt Shannon. The rest is family history.
The family featured in People magazine (and received a big shipment of clothing from Switzerland as a result of the article), and appeared on CBS’ Early Show. The Discovery Channel shadowed the family for a few weeks at the turn of the year, and a one-hour documentary aired in the spring.
The Murphys live in Atlanta and hope to add a new member to their family very soon. Both John and Jeanette are 100 percent Irish and are extremely proud of their heritage. John’s rich family history can be traced back to Counties Wicklow and Wexford.
The Murphys, already the parents of four, have opened up their home to 23 children with Down Syndrome since adopting their daughter Shannon in 1983.
Despite their children’s special needs, John and Jeanette strive to teach their brood – ranging in age from 13 months to 34 years – independence, teamwork and the skills necessary to grow into thriving adults, while experiencing as normal a childhood as possible.
They school the young children at home and teach them sign language to help them communicate. Afternoons and weekends are spent roller-blading, hiking and taking field trips to the zoo. And they always find the energy to make a home-cooked breakfast every morning.
The Murphys’ story began when John and Jeanette were volunteering at a home for mentally handicapped adults. They came to believe that a strong family environment might be beneficial for youngsters facing similar handicaps. Later that same year, they were overjoyed to adopt Shannon. The rest is family history.
The family featured in People magazine (and received a big shipment of clothing from Switzerland as a result of the article), and appeared on CBS’ Early Show. The Discovery Channel shadowed the family for a few weeks at the turn of the year, and a one-hour documentary aired in the spring.
The Murphys live in Atlanta and hope to add a new member to their family very soon. Both John and Jeanette are 100 percent Irish and are extremely proud of their heritage. John’s rich family history can be traced back to Counties Wicklow and Wexford.