LOS ANGELES, Oct 30, (Agencies): Every child has a right to a loving family, and Shannon Pinkerton was inspired by this belief from her own parents. Her parents ran a group home for children with special needs, and they instilled in her the value of family. In 2009, when the opportunity to foster Joey, a 10-year-old with Down syndrome, came her way, Shannon and her husband, Troy, didn't hesitate. Their son, Cody, had pleaded with them to adopt Joey, and Shannon had always had a deep affection for children like him.

Fast forward almost 15 years, and Shannon, now 52, and Troy, 56, have not only adopted Joey but also five other remarkable young men with Down syndrome: Devlin, 18, Julian, 20, Cameron, 23, Anthony, 25, and Tracee, 28. Some of these young men also have additional developmental challenges, such as nonverbal autism and dwarfism.

Life with this extraordinary family is far from ordinary. Their 40-acre home in Glenrock, Wyoming is a place of constant activity and adventure. They enjoy riding horses, raising chickens and collecting eggs, and even regular trips to Sam's Club for groceries.

Troy, who works as a coal miner, attests to the fact that there's never a dull moment in their household. He believes the boys are content and fulfilled because they lead anything but a boring life. Their days are filled with camping trips, visits to Disneyland, horseback riding, and so much more. In contrast, if they were in a facility, they might have lived a day-to-day existence without the opportunity to do the things that so-called "normal" people do.

Shannon, who documents the boys' adventures on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, has a mission to provide them with enriching life experiences they may have missed out on while in foster care. She describes how falling in love with these young men is almost inevitable, as they are kind-hearted and nonjudgmental, embracing everyone without bias.

Their bustling home is not only filled with the adopted boys but also the couple's four adult biological children and three grandchildren. The family frequently spends evenings and weekends together, and they even attend the college wrestling matches of their youngest son, Cody, who is now 22.

Troy reflects on their hectic but fulfilling life, stating, "It's very busy, but these boys bring excitement and immense joy. We simply want to support them and offer them a place to call their forever home." Shannon and Troy Pinkerton's family is a testament to the love and compassion that knows no bounds when it comes to welcoming and nurturing children in need of a caring family.