The Lucas family

As a foster parent for 17 years, Linda Lucas never once considered adoption. Until three years ago, when she received a call that the three sisters in her care were available to adopt. In an effort to keep the family together, Ms. Lucas decided to provide the girls with something they’d never known throughout their entire lives in foster care – a permanent home.

A year later, she opened her home as foster mom to five more of the girls’ siblings, rescuing them from an environment of drug-addicted parents and constant domestic abuse. Then she learned they were also going to be available for adoption. The adoptions were finalized the next month, and the Lucas family grew to eight children, ranging in age from 2 to 13.

Ms. Lucas also has three grown children of her own and 16 grandchildren. She’s a full-time nurse at Shands Hospital and still finds time to take the children on trips out of state, to the beach and to amusement parks. Now the youngsters are hoping for just one more thing – Oprah as their godmother.