Disabled Kids A Family's Treasure

Most parents will admit to losing patience at one time or another with a child. And the more kids in the family, the more patience it takes. That's why the Silcocks' story so amazing. Ann Belles and husband Jim Silcock are the parents of 25 sons, all of them disabled.

The family, which will be profiled tonight on 60 MInutes II, took the time out of their very hectic schedules to talk to The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm from their Orange County, Calif., home.

The kids don't have to look far to find a role model. Their own father, Jim Silcock, is himself quadriplegic, paralyzed in a diving accident a decade before he met Ann on the Internet.

Back then, Silcock recalls his wife had already eight or nine children.

"It was a heck of a lifestyle change," Silcock says of the transition from no children to eight.

It's a lifestyle change that would scare off most men. But since marrying in 1998, the Silcocks have adopted 22 boys with three more adoptions pending.

It was Belles' dream to adopt since she was very small. She says, "I saw the movie 'Oliver' when I was 5 or 6 and I walked out of that movie thinking I wanted to adopt orphan boys."

For Silcock's part, being disabled gives him a special understanding of his boys. He says, "Gives me a lot more patience and a lot more heart in trying to help them along with different things that seem unreachable for them. And the reality is, like, a little more love, a little more love, and they can accomplish whatever they want."

To get the family to function efficiently requires quite some mastery in logistics. Belles notes, "I think the good thing is that Jim and I are both really organized people and we sort of really divide and conquer. And keeping it running smoothly does require some organization."

Silcock is in charge of the grocery shopping. Asked about what the bill is per week he says, "Usually between $400 and $600 on a week that we really, really have gotten dry on groceries. Normally it's around $300, $350."

Asked what sort of message they hope to send to those reluctant to adopt kids with disabilities. Belles says, "I would like people to open their heart to children who have disabilities and consider the possibilities.

These kids may look like they have limitations. But they have actually been involved in everything in their community from karate and swimming to acting and they're great kids and a lot of fun. And I think that if people could look past their disabilities, that would be great."

Silcock adds with a big smile, "I feel that if everybody could adopt one special needs child, that would really take the pressure off my wife and myself."

Asked if they plan to adopt more kids, Silcock says, "We'll probably adopt more. There's a lot of love left in our heart and there's a lot more children out there."

You can see more of this amazing family on 60 Minutes II on CBS Wednesday night at 8 p.m./ET, 7 p.m./Central. Correspondent Vicki Mabrey recently got a first-hand look at what life is like for the Silcocks.