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In a heartwarming conclusion to a journey that began over a year ago, five siblings who captured the hearts of the Greater Cincinnati community have officially found their “forever family.”
On Wednesday, the eve of Thanksgiving, the children’s long-held wish to stay together was granted inside a packed Hamilton County Probate Courtroom.
The emotional ceremony marked the end of uncertainty for the siblings—Chevy (14), Kaleb (10), twins Vida and Zoey (9), and their older brother Brayden (16).
While Brayden made the selfless choice to remain with friends to finish his school year, he was front and center to witness his brothers and sisters officially join the Janney family, ensuring the bond they fought so hard to protect remains unbroken.
A wish granted after a year of hope
The siblings were first introduced to the public by WLWT one year ago. At the time, their request was simple but powerful: they wanted to be adopted together. Their story of resilience and love for one another resonated with thousands of viewers.
Back then, the children candidly shared their sibling dynamics. “Having brothers is annoying,” Vida joked at the time. “Having a sister is annoying too.” But beneath the teasing was a fierce loyalty. When asked what he wanted most in a future home, 10-year-old Kaleb had a simple answer: “Food.”
This Thanksgiving, Kaleb’s wish is a reality. “It felt good,” Kaleb said following the adoption, knowing he now has a permanent seat at the table for a holiday synonymous with family meals.
A courtroom packed with love
The finalization hearing was a celebration attended by friends, family, and supporters who had rallied around the children. Among them was Mary, the children’s devoted foster mother.
Over the last 24 years, Mary has fostered hundreds of children, creating a personalized scrapbook for every single one of them. She continued that tradition for these five, preserving memories of their journey to this day.
Judge Ralph Winkler presided over the ceremony, declaring the adoption final to the applause of the room. “At this time, I will sign the final decree. Congratulations,” Winkler announced, cementing the legal bond between the children and their new parents, Nelson and Joni Janney.
The power of sharing their story
The union was made possible, in part, by the power of storytelling.
Nelson Janney, the children’s new father, revealed that he and his wife discovered the siblings through the original news coverage.
“We came across this article,” Nelson explained to WLWT. “I was deployed, and then we immediately just called each other and said, ‘Yes’.”
For Joni Janney, who is already a mother to four other children, the decision was about providing stability and new experiences.
“We’re just excited to just do everything with them and show them things that maybe they haven’t seen and just be stable for them,” she said.
Nelson echoed that sentiment, noting that the transition has felt incredibly natural.
“It doesn’t feel like they have not been part of our family. It feels like, you know, they’ve been with us since day one,” he said.
As families across Cincinnati gather to give thanks this week, the Janneys have a new, profound reason for gratitude: a family made whole, just in time for the holidays.
Adoption in Greater Cincinnati: Hope and ongoing need
Greater Cincinnati continues to face a significant demand for adoptive and permanent families.
In 2019, Hamilton County Job and Family Services (HCJFS) set a record high when it placed 259 children into adoptive homes, a notable increase from the roughly 100–140 adoptions per year between 2010 and 2016, WCPO reported.
Yet, even with that progress, the need remains urgent.
According to 2024 data based on the Hamilton County Foster Care Statistics, HCJFS had 1,936 youth in custody, of whom 166 were adopted that year, while 344 children remained waiting for adoption.
This shows that many children remain legally eligible for adoption, but are waiting for permanent placement.
Overall, in Hamilton County (and by extension Greater Cincinnati), thousands of children cycle through the child welfare system annually, going into foster care, entering custody, or being placed for adoption or other permanency outcomes.
For example, in SFY 2023, the county recorded 2,665 children in custody at some point during the year.
What this means for people interested in adopting
- Greater Cincinnati needs more adoptive families and permanent placements, because many children remain waiting even after recent adoption gains.
- There are still hundreds of children legally available for adoption at any given time, a considerable pool for prospective parents.
- Adoption remains a key route to permanency, but it competes with reunification, guardianship, or continued foster care placements. That means demand remains constant, and the contribution of foster or adoptive parents continues to be critical.
- For families considering adoption, or simply wanting to help, the opportunity remains; the need is real and ongoing.
Also read:
Things people can expect to do in Cincinnati on Thanksgiving Day 2025
Thanksgiving meal events expand across Greater Cincinnati as demand rises
