Northwest Las Vegas couple goes out of their way to adopt special needs children

Northwest resident Melinda Munson does not consider herself, or her husband Paul, exceptional. She believes that anyone in their shoes would do what they are doing, no questions asked. The reality is not everyone would be able to take care of children with special needs — or especially go out of their way to adopt them.

Over the last 10 years, the Munson family has adopted four children, including two who are developmentally disabled and two who are blind.

“My husband and (my) biggest pet peeve is, when people find out we adopted children with special needs, they think we must be perfect or that we’re going straight to heaven,” Melinda said. “I have no more patience or kindness than the next person. I believe that anyone who feels inspired can do what we’ve done.”

After the couple had their first daughter, Julia, 14, Melinda said she felt they needed to adopt a child from India.

“Nobody understood our decision because we could have children if we wanted, but I just knew there was this kid out there who needed a home and that we could provide it,” Melinda said.

Due to the high fees of international adoption, the duo got creative and held weekend garage sales almost every week for a year to raise funds. When neighbors found out what they were doing, they donated items and money, Melinda said.

They also held a dinner fundraiser, and with the community’s help, they raised roughly 70 percent of the $10,000 needed to adopt then-2-year-old Maruthi from India. Maruthi is blind and nonverbal.

“When he came home to us, he didn’t care about eating because he starved in an orphanage,” Melinda said. “He just laid on his back in his crib for two years, so he also learned how to use his feet like a little monkey.”

Due to the lack of stimulation as a baby, Maruthi rocks himself back and forth, but the Munsons say it’s nothing compared to when he first came home. They also have to use a feeding tube to get him to eat. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t until two years ago that now-12-year-old Maruthi ate independently for the first time, she added.

“People need to realize that they are not picking a kid out of a catalog,” Melinda said. “They are accepting and loving someone that might come with surprises, and that’s OK. Surprises can be really good.”

Their son Sam, 7, was born in October 2008, and then two years later Gloria, now 13, who is blind, was adopted from Utah from the foster care system when she was 6.

The duo then became foster parents to Justin, 4, and Summer, 3, who have learning disabilities. After deeming that their mother was unfit to take care of them, they were adopted.

“This was never my plan,” Melinda said. “I was never going to get married. I got my degree in journalism and English, and I was going to enroll in the Peace Corps in Africa. Things change.”

The Munsons are no strangers to extending their home to those in need. Melinda and Paul came from families that adopted children.

“I actually really like having a big family,” Julia said. “I enjoy watching everyone grow and learn. I’m fine with all of the adoptive ones. The only one who bothers me is my biological brother.”

As a previous foster mother, Melinda has also spoken to the legislature about the foster care system and continues to be an advocate for children in the system.

Paul works as the lead dining kitchen manager chef for Catholic Charities, while Melinda is a stay-at-home mother. Besides driving six children to the pediatrician, eye doctor visits, therapist, school and tutoring, Melinda drives her children who are blind to the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation to partake in activities.

How do the parents manage with six children?

“Our normal is different,” Melinda said. “It doesn’t matter how many kids you have; being a parent is hard. I used to think that my patience would grow, but I learned that it doesn’t. Patience stretches — it is love that grows.”

“No one needs to think that this is all roses, but the overall thing is that we love each other and we’re happy together,” Paul added. “My family is everything. They’re the reason why I work so hard. Without them, it’d be pretty pointless. We always tell people that we are the lucky ones.”

To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.