At the home of Ron and Alice Montgomery children are front and center stage. You’ll hear talking and laughing…maybe a little crying…and occasionally even an argument or two. All the commotion might bother some, but the sound is like music to the Montgomery's. It means their children are safe, happy and healthy… something that may not have happened without the Montgomery's around.

Five of the Montgomery’s eight children are adopted. Theresa is from India, André and Paul from Colombia, and Catherine and Anna from the Philippines. All of them lived in orphanages or foster homes. They weren’t chosen for the color of their eyes or their adorable smiles….it was because they had significant physical problems and they’d been awaiting adoption for years. Three of the children had cerebral palsy, one had polio, another suffered the after-effects of malnutrition. They needed doctors, modern medicine and a lot of love.

Alice started "the love connection" by adopting Theresa, André and Paul. She met her husband Ron while working at Marion Labs. Ron and Alice were both single parents, raising children with special needs. They shared the same moral, religious and personal beliefs and they fell in love. The Montgomery's were married in 1989.

As their children grew, the Montgomery's began to discover community resources, various special programs designed to help children build confidence, independence and physical strength.  Ron’s oldest son was having trouble in school. He started attending the after-school program at Rainbow Center for Communicative Disorders and his attitude improved dramatically. Ben made new friends, played on the center’s Special Olympics basketball team and eventually got a chance to work at Rainbow Center for two years.

Theresa got involved with the United Cerebral Palsy’s (UCP’s) wheelchair basketball team. About that time, Alice discovered the Community Disability Network’s Toy Lending Library. She said, "We found therapeutic toys that improved Theresa’s balance and dexterity. We also found toys that helped improve her reading. The Toy Library is wonderful. It’s practically free and lets children have fun without realizing they’re receiving therapy."

André also joined the UCP sports program and the Toy Library. His family noticed significant improvement with his fine motor skills and ability to walk. Richard didn’t have any disabilities, but he suffered a concussion playing soccer. He received several months of therapy at The Rehabilitation Institute, another CFC agency. As the Montgomery's watched their children grow, they kept thinking about all the other children with special needs without families. Ron recalls, "We called a family meeting and agreed we had room for more."

Catherine came next from an orphanage in the Philippines. Alice remembers, "She had spastic cerebral palsy. Her legs were crossed and her only means of movement was crawling on her elbows and dragging her body along. Her hips were dislocated, she needed help right away."

Catherine had five different surgeries performed at Children’s Mercy Hospital. She also received a walker through UCP. Her therapist suggested the Montgomery's explore the Jackson County 4-H Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program.  It is designed to help disabled adults and children improve their balance and posture, give them confidence, and let them have fun. It’s working…. Catherine loves it and has progressed from using her walker to using crutches.

The newest member of the Montgomery family arrived from the Philippines in June 2000. Anna also has cerebral palsy. She had received therapy in the Philippines and a pair of orthopedic shoes, but she needed more. Within a month of her arrival in Kansas City, doctors at Children’s Mercy Hospital fitted her with leg braces. She’s now using Catherine’s old walker and is undergoing additional medical tests for hearing problems. Even though Anna can’t yet tell you in English, she loves her new family and being able to walk.

Although Ron and Alice hadn’t realized it, at least seven different CFC agencies have helped their children. You can see why our community is one of the best places for children anywhere in the world.