BRADENTON — Aaron Crowl wiped away tears of bittersweet joy Monday as a judge told the 26-year-old he could adopt the six children of his deceased sister.
Judge Doug Henderson made it official when he approved Crowl’s request to make a home for the children of his sister Christi Charles. Charles, who was pregnant with her eighth child, was killed in a vehicle crash in May 2008 along with her 10-year-old son Christopher.
“I feel awesome,” Crowl said as he left the courtroom with the more than 20 family members and friends who came to witness the event.
During the proceedings, attorney Linda Griffin went through the official questioning of all the people responsible for making the adoption a reality — the social worker from Safe Children Coalition and the guardian ad litem volunteer.
Griffin also questioned the two oldest children, Reyes, 17, and Heather, 14, about whether they wanted to be adopted and change their last name to Charles-Crowl.
A little nervous because of the formal atmosphere of the court, Reyes and Heather shyly but eagerly answered yes.
While waiting in the lobby for the judge to complete another adoption proceeding, Reyes, Heather, and their siblings Nicklaus, 10, Eduardo, 7, Sandy, 6, and Alejandro, 3, received teddy bears and plastic blinking, red heart buttons from Griffin to mark the occasion.
“This is the perfect situation,” said Maria Martinez, the adoption supervisor for Safe Children Coalition, “because the children get to stay together.”
Family and friends hugged and congratulated each other after the adoption hearing. Crowl has had guardianship of the children since the accident.
“It feels good to get it all over with,” Reyes said, just before his new father released six white balloons into the air in the Judicial Center courtyard. His grandmother, Marilyn Crowl, Crowl’s and Charles’ mother, said she was very happy as tears flowed down her cheeks.
“I’m very proud of my son,” she said. “The kids are happy and don’t want to be with anyone but their Uncle Aaron.”
Glenn Crowl III said his brother was doing a tremendous job raising the children with the help of the extended family and friends.
“He stepped up to the plate,” Glenn Crowl said, “and we’ll continue to support him.”
Brandi Bright, a friend of the family who only got to know Aaron Crowl after the accident, said it was a wonderful thing he was doing for the children.
“He’s only 26 and single,” Bright said, “and he stepped up to take care of six kids. That’s admirable.”
Judy Sharple, the guardian ad litem who watched out for the children’s interests during the year-and-a-half process, said Aaron Crowl and his family are wonderful.
“He takes the best care of them,” Sharple said, “and they are well-mannered children.
“The children lost a mother and brother but they’re happy because today even outs their path a little,” she said.
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