Family to Adopt 4 at Oklahoma Department of Human Services Commission Meeting July 24

For Media Inquiries, Contact:

First Time in State History

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Commission for Human Services will serve as witnesses as 4 girls, ages 7, 8, 10 and 13, become the daughters of Steven and Maylene Sorrels July 24. The Honorable Judge Richard Kirby will preside over the first public adoption held at a Human Services Commission meeting.

Taylor, Nicole, Gabby and Breanna, the nieces of Maylene, will join the 6 other Sorrels siblings. Steven and Maylene, married 2-1/2 years, each have 3 children from previous marriages. All, except Steven’s oldest son, Cody, 12, live with the family in Moore. Cody frequently visits his 3 brothers and six sisters. The blended family consists of two 6 year olds, two 7 year olds, one 8 year old, three 10 year olds, one 12 year old and one 13 year old.

“Just imagine…we go through 15 gallons of milk a week and two boxes of cereal a day,” said Maylene. Family outings involve two vehicles. Getting ready for church begins the night before, “especially with six girls who all want their hair curled,” said Maylene.

On Christmas Eve 2003, Maylene’s sister, addicted to methamphetamine and crack, left the four little girls with a sitter and never returned. The girls’ paternal grandparents provided kinship foster care. The girls’ father also suffers from drug addiction and, Maylene said, frequently abused the girls’ mother.

“I’ve known these girls all their lives,” said Maylene. “It was so hard seeing them when they were young…we knew what they didn’t have. We knew how much they needed.”

In May 2006, the grandparents could no longer care for the girls. Maylene felt it was her chance to make a difference in the girls’ lives. With six kids already and Steven, a plumber, working in Arkansas, she wasn’t sure her newly wedded husband would agree.

“He said, ‘Who’s going to take care of them if not us? Who’s going to know them like you do? Who’s going to help them?’”

The girls were placed in relative foster care with the Sorrels. Maylene’s first order of business was to have a family photo taken.

“I wanted the girls to see that they belong, they have a family…a forever family.”

Initially, all the children blended well and all seemed surprisingly peaceful. Then as the girls became more secure, their challenges emerged. They hoarded food or ate and ate, nearly making themselves sick. They’d sit on Maylene and Steven’s laps for hours, needing hugs and soothing. Taylor, the oldest, struggled with fears of her parents leaving and not returning. Nicole, said Steven, was the quietest child he’d ever met. Breanna, the youngest, was small for her age and needed the most cuddling. Gabby, their parents agreed, was the hardest child to reach.

“She had no expression,” said Steven. “She’d never smile. She was emotionless.”

A year later, though, and all the girls have grown in height and increased their weight by 2 to 3 sizes.

“We’ve fought for these kids the whole way,” said Maylene. “They’ve grown emotionally, physically and spiritually. They deserve everything. They’re so strong and have overcome so much. They can do anything because they already have.”

Presiding over the adoption will be the Honorable Richard W. Kirby, district judge, seventh judicial district, Oklahoma County.

With his extensive experience as an officer of the court, Kirby currently serves as the presiding judge for the Oklahoma County juvenile division. In addition to his court docket, he also has oversight of the Oklahoma County Juvenile Justice Center, the Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Post-Adjudication Review Board for Oklahoma County.

Before being elected to serve as district judge, Kirby served as General Counsel for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, a state agency of nearly 5,000 employees. He previously served the administration of former Gov. Frank Keating from 1997 through 2003 as chief advisor on criminal justice. Prior to his service for Gov. Keating, Kirby primarily worked in central and western Oklahoma from 1987 through 1997 as an Assistant District Attorney for Beckham, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Ellis, Roger Mills, Caddo, Grady, Stephens and Jefferson counties.

He serves on the leadership boards of organizations such as Special Care of Oklahoma City, a day care for special needs children; the Edmond Association of Retarded Citizens; the Putnam City United Methodist Church; and the Oklahoma District Attorney’s Justice Assistance Grant Board.

Lance Phillips, an 11-year Oklahoma City adoption attorney, represents the family.

“I think it’s wonderful that the Sorrels are taking on a large sibling group,” said Phillips. “They should be commended for their efforts.”

###