Doctor Adopts Boy Alone at Surgery, Unites 5 Siblings

When pediatric anesthesiologist Dr. Amy Beethe walked into a hospital room at Children's Nebraska, she found a 4-year-old boy sitting completely alone before major heart surgery. That moment changed seven lives forever.

True was born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, a serious congenital heart defect. Despite the scary situation, the little boy's spirit shone through right away.

Just before going under anesthesia, True played a trick on Dr. Beethe. "I thought he was asleep, then I pulled down his mask, and he said, 'Boo!'" she recalled with a laugh.

But Dr. Beethe couldn't shake the image of that small child facing something so frightening without anyone by his side. After surgery, she called her husband Ryan with an unusual request.

"I just said, 'We need to have a talk when we get home. I need you to have an open mind,'" Amy remembered. Ryan agreed to meet True at the hospital.

"We went up and met True in the hospital and immediately fell in love with him," Ryan said. "It wasn't long before we knew we needed him in our family."

Within weeks, True moved in with the Beethes. The couple officially adopted him soon after.

Then the Beethes learned True had five siblings also living in difficult circumstances. They couldn't adopt all six children, but they refused to let that stop them.

Amy started making phone calls to the people closest to her. Her sister and brother-in-law adopted one sibling. Ryan's brother and his wife took in another.

A fellow anesthesiologist at Children's Nebraska and her husband welcomed two more siblings. The Beethes adopted one of True's sisters themselves.

Sunny's Take

All six siblings now have permanent, loving homes within one extended family network. They get to grow up together, attending family gatherings and staying connected through the very best circumstances.

"It's like one big extended family," Amy said. The children see each other regularly and know they belong together.

Today, True loves playing basketball and kickball with his siblings, though he sometimes needs to catch his breath. His doctors say watching his strength through multiple medical challenges inspires everyone around him.

True's own philosophy sums up his journey perfectly: "Just keep going and don't stop."

One doctor refused to walk away from a child in need, and now six siblings have the love and stability every child deserves.