LEXINGTON, Ky. — Rebecca and Darren Maas started adopting children from China and Ethiopia after their second child was born.

Rebecca has spent the majority of her life in Kentucky, and has always cared for children. After seeing a documentary about how China’s one-child policy landed many girls in orphanages, the couple felt compelled to adopt a girl from China.

“When our son was just a couple of months old, I think, we started the paperwork, which takes a long time,” said Rebecca.

It was over two years later that they would finally bring their first adopted child, Faith, home.

“On the way home, it was kind of funny, I looked at my husband, and we were really just touched by what we saw in the orphanage and the children and their needs. And I looked at him and I was like, ‘I wonder if we have a son, like, in Africa or something,’” said Rebecca.

After looking into organizations in Ethiopia, she came across photos of a boy. At first, he looked healthy, but a few months later she saw other photos of him and realized he might die without the love of a family.

“I started talking to my husband, and we both started feeling that tug that, you know, we can offer this child a home,” said Rebecca.

They went through with adopting him and named him Jacob. Once he was in their home, he not only lived, but he thrived. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and Rebecca happily took on the role as his caretaker.

“We started caring for him, and I was like, ‘Why was I so scared, you know, why was I so scared of this?’ Because it has given me more joy to be his parent and to be his mom and take care of him,” said Rebecca. “I can’t imagine not having him in our family.”

The couple has adopted 10 children, many of whom have special needs, but that wasn’t always part of their plans. While in the process of adopting Faith, Rebecca came to a realization.

“There are so many children who are in orphanages now, waiting for families, and you’re just sitting on a list, hoping for a perfect child,” said Rebecca. “Why would you do that when you can give someone a home now?”

Even though having so many children can be overwhelming at times, Maas wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Everybody’s like, ‘Oh your kids are so blessed,’” said Rebecca. “And I’m always like, ‘Well I’m sure they are, but I feel like that my husband and I are far more blessed by them than we could ever bless them.’”

Under the couple’s care, some of their children have been able to pursue passions like dancing and art. Their first adopted child, Faith, is a painter and the family has her worked displayed on their walls.

Rebecca says that she feels very supported by the community in central Kentucky because of the access to resources that are geared toward children with medical needs.