Shocking documentary leads Katie Price and Peter André to explore adoption

Already parents to three kids — Harvey Daniel, 6, Junior Savva, 3, and Princess Tiáamii, 1 — British couple Katie ‘Jordan‘ Price and Peter André are ready to expand their family of five to six through international adoption.  Although Katie recently said a fourth child wasn’t "in the cards quite yet," the couple has never been shy about wanting more kids and now — after seeing a BBC4 documentary titled Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children — it seems as if their next step will be adoption.  Touched by seeing the film — which follows children with mental and physical disabilities in a Bulgarian orphanage over a nine-month period — Katie admits that "the program moved me to tears" and led the superstar couple to "see a lawyer about adopting a baby abroad."

The 30-year-old model is no stranger to children with disabilities as she has been very open with the public in discussing her eldest son’s battle with septo-optic dysplasia — a condition which can cause blindness, cognitive delay, and hormonal and weight issues.  Willing to open their home to a child with special needs, Katie says that there are "so many babies who are born with disabilities [who] find it hard to find adoptive parents — no one wants them."

For now, the adoption process could take up to 18 months, which does not seem to be a problem for the couple — their only goal is to "help a child to have a better life."

Source: The Sun; Photo by BauerGriffinOnline.com.

Comments

I think it’s great that they’re taking an interest in orphans with special needs. I’ve always thought about this myself, having grown up knowing a family who had adopted 6 kids with special needs. I’ve always said that if I were to adopt, I would adopt a child with special needs. Good for them for being so open to this type of adoption!

- Charlotte on July 14th, 2008

I love this couple!!!

- Julie on July 14th, 2008

I must say, I am very impressed with this couple and the way they are handling their son’s condition as well as the possibility of adopting a child with special needs.

I, myself was born with a birth defect (Spina Bifida) 40yrs ago and back then things were so different. The doctors tried to tell my parents to give me up saying I would have no life anyways but they chose to keep me and love me unconditionally and I turned out great thanks to them.

So, I want to thank anyone who is willing to give a child with disabilities a fighting chance at a good life with all the love and support they deserve. Like my mom used to tell me, we are all the same in the ways that matter most. We all just do things a little differently is all.

- Namesake Treasures Personalized Gifts on July 14th, 2008

Wow that’s great! After reading all of the accounts of “Jordan”/Katie’s partying ways in The Sun online back in 2000 or so, I would’ve never guessed that she’d eventually want to adopt special needs kids, but thankfully her own children have given her a new outlook on life. It’s great if her oldest son is doing as well as he can, and that her other children are doing well too.

I could definitely see the possibility of them adopting a child from say a Romanian orphanage or something, but we’ll just have to see if that happens. Good luck to them.

- Autumn on July 14th, 2008

Oh wow, kudos to the BBC for doing that documentary. As a disability advocate myself, I often look at such documentaries with a jaded eye as often they really focus on the “bad things” with regards to disabilities. Sort of playing up on the disability instead of focusing on positive aspects, ya know?

Anyway, what Katie had to say about adopting a child with a disability or two is very encouraging. It is amazing how many children there are around the world in similar situations as in Bulgaria. Too often people focus on adopting a child that is “normal” aka without any disabilities and not take into consideration a child that has a disability is just as in need of a loving home. Governments need to make more effort to make society adaptable to people with disabilities, especially with regard to healthcare costs. The British health system is in a better place than the USA thanks to the NHS.

Also kudos to CBB for posting this as people clicking on that BBC link to read about the children in Bulgaria will bring even more awareness of such situations around the world.

- DLR on July 14th, 2008

I saw the documentary on CNN. Its good that they are thinking but they said intarnational adoption is not allowed.

- nata on July 14th, 2008

what a nice thing for them to do. She seems good with harvey, defintley more than his bio dad

- brooke on August 10th, 2008