Susan Tom (pictured left), a woman from California that adopted 11 children with various disabilities and diseases, addressed a room of Reynolds students this week. Tom and her children are featured in the 2003 HBO documentary “My Flesh and Blood.” Following the film, she talked with students and answered their questions about her decision to take in children with special needs.
“It was selfish at first. I had two boys and I wanted a girl,” she said. “I knew the only way to ensure that I got a little girl was to fill out an application for one.”
Tom and her husband had two biological children and two adopted children. After they divorced, she began taking in foster children and worked to help place them in permanent homes. For whatever reason, she said, she felt a connection to some of those kids.
“With some of them, I just felt like they were my kids,” she said.
The HBO documentary was filmed nearly 10 years ago. Her daughter Susie passed away prior to the filming and her sons Anthony and Joe have since passed away. Since the documentary filming, the Tom family has also been featured on ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover (see a photos of their finished home here http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/photo-details/tom-family/60917).
Tom told students “if you see something that needs changing, then change it…because if not you, then who?”JSRCC Literacy Specialist Sidney Jane Sharp (pictured middle) coordinated Tom’s visit. Following the film and the discussion, Richmond Volunteers Organizer Tam Evans (pictured right) discussed local volunteer opportunities with students. For clips from the documentary, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO9U3ajImLI&feature=related.
