8 minute read
The Pinkertons: Just an Extraordinary Family
by Amy D Hernandez (USA, blogger, mum of three)
I was not sure what to expect when I first interviewed Shannon Pinkerton, but I knew I was in for an epic conversation about adoption, Down syndrome, and what it means to be a family.
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Shannon (49) and Troy (53) Pinkerton are raising six adopted young men with a learning disability on forty acres in Wyoming, U.S.A. Five of them have Down syndrome, and one has dwarfism and other special needs. They also look after Marybeth, 63, who has Down syndrome. I interviewed Shannon over two phone calls. The second call occurred during a bout with a stomach bug. All of us know the misery that brings to a household, so I thanked her profusely for even picking up the phone! Such is life when you have so many responsibilities. There is just no time to be sick. From the time she was very young, Shannon grew up around people with disabilities as her mother was running a group home. Maybe that is why from a young age, Shannon knew she wanted to have her own child with Down syndrome later in life and was not deterred by those who said she was crazy for feeling this way. Troy and Shannon knew each other from school and lived just up the road from one another. When they were first married, they worked in a men’s group home together. Shannon, never forgetting her childhood wish, started looking into fostering and adoption, and Troy agreed to jump in with both feet. Moving to Wyoming from Southern California almost twenty years ago gave the Pinkertons the space they would need for their large family. They have now fostered over thirty children, most of whom have been reunited with their families. The Pinkertons have two biological sons and two biological daughters, all of whom are now adults and live nearby. Their biological children are helpful and give their parents respite, though it is mostly a case of big siblings taking an interest in their younger siblings. As with Shan-
non’s childhood, this is what they have always known, and they are glad to help out. Shannon and Troy have adopted six young men: Joey, Tracee, Anthony, Julian and his brother Cameron, and Devlin. Marybeth also lives with the family. When Shannon was four, her parents took in Marybeth, then eighteen. Marybeth is now sixty-three and has lived with Shannon’s own family for the past nineteen years. Shannon describes Marybeth as “the princess” of the house who lets everyone know that she is the boss. All the Pinkerton children were fourteen or older when they were adopted and a few came from challenging circumstances. from a young age, Shannon the Joey is twenty-one. “He was first and youngest to be adoptedknew she wanted to have at age ten. Cody, one of our biological her own child with Down sons, then aged nine years old, was actually the one who discovered him. syndrome Cody had a friend with Down syndrome and now wanted a brother with Down syndrome, so he took it upon himself to find one! Joey is the character of the house, always playing jokes on everyone! He is a great lover of Sponge Bod and Captain America. He is also our lazy guy and spends more effort on getting out of a chore than it would take to complete it!” says Shannon. Tracee, 24, was next to be adopted when he was sixteen . Tracee had been living in an institution where he was chained to a table! Tracee is non-verbal and is autistic but now gets his point across through gestures and dancing, which he loves! He also needs his beads at all times! Anthony, 22, was lucky to have a loving foster family when the Pinkertons discovered him at the age of fifteen. He has many nicknames: “Mr Clean” and “Hall Monitor” being two of them because he loves things clean and orderly.
Anthony Julian
Marybeth
Cameron
Joey Devlin
Tracee
Punishment for Anthony is taking away his cleaning supplies. The best thing is that Mum and Dad never need to worry when they go out on their own: What happens at the Pinkertons never stays at the Pinkertons, Anthony always makes sure of that; he invariably provides them with a very detailed verbal account about everything and everyone upon their return, including the sitter minding them. I think we all need an Anthony in our lives, don’t we? What a fantastic roommate! Julian, 17, and Cameron (their only adopted son who doesn’ have Down syndrome, has dwarfism, is legally blind and medically fragile), 21, are biological brothers who had been separated in the care system. The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network (NDSAN), which is the agency the Pinkertons have used, made a plea on Cameron’s behalf that he be adopted along with Julian, and of course, the Pinkertons agreed. Cameron was sixteen, Julian was fourteen. Julian loves to be outside, ride horses and wrestle. Cameron loves movies and is the self-professed world’s biggest Scooby Doo fan. Cameron is also known to break into song at the drop of a hat. Devlin, their youngest child and most recent adoptee (October 2020) came from an institution. Because of this, he has had to learn what it means to be in a family and move past the institutional mindset such as a lack of personal space, boundary issues, and having much more freedom than he was used to. It has taken some time, but he is blooming into a loving member of the family who craves spending time with the others. Devlin is fifteen. The pandemic has presented a few challenges for their family, as with any other. Being in a big state with a small population like Wyoming, however, has its advantages. Social distancing is inevitable in the wide, open space. The first few weeks and months of lockdown were filled with dance parties, Zoom get-togethers, and TikTok videos. Shannon genuinely enjoys having the kids around, and was not overly stressed at all the fam-
The ily time. The kids have now been back at school first few weeks since September. In case you think Shannon is a superand months of lock- woman who never seems to need a break, down were filled she says that having so much support from her mom, husband, and older kids with dance parties, get her through; though she will not turn down a mani/pedi. Husband, Troy, helps Zoom get-togethers, as much as he can with their children and TikTok when he is not busy as a farrier or working outside the home at a coal mine where he is videos. a drag line operator. As a family, the Pinkertons love to travel, visiting family in California, going to Disneyland, and camping in Wyoming. This year, in addition to their family trips, Shannon and Troy will take their first ever ( and much deserved!) solo trip to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary. Closer to home, the kids love riding horses with their dad, which has the added benefit of addressing their core strength, which can be an issue for individuals with Down syndrome.
The whole Pinkerton family
The Pinkertons have also become somewhat of a TikTok sensation with over 533,000 followers! Their interest in TikTok came from Cameron wanting to connect with people in his past. Though Shannon was fearful of the exposure to hate that her kids would surely be subjected to, she knew that it was age-appropriate for Cameron to have it. As for the haters, they have learned to address them with kindness, humour and an occasional, “Bye! You’re blocked!”. Cameron has taken to replying to any mean messages directly, which is empowering for him. They have also found a community that is quick to jump to their defence, for which they are grateful! Shannon has found TikTok useful for spreading adoption awareness, and has gotten over her initial trepidation regarding the platform, though she is quick to shut down any haters, with help from Cameron and her daughter Haley. I cannot help but think that their visibility in a rural, small town, does wonders for the Down syndrome community in general. Small towns are not typically known for inclusivity, but with so many Pinkertons they have had no choice but to embrace them. The family is popular in church and in local restaurants. The kids and young adults have also been supported well in school, though in Shannon’s words: “They had no choice”. Shannon is a self-pro-
fessed Mama Bear when it comes to her children, and their education is no exception. The one message Shannon wants to get out to people is that they are not a special family. Their children needed homes and they were willing and able to provide one. They are just a family, like any other. It’s not all roses I am struck by their genuine and fairy dust. After all, people with Down syndrome are NOT happy all the time. Theylove and care for one another are human, and this is a very human famand for Shannon and Troy’s ily. sheer devotion to kids who One look at their social media presence, and you understand this. There otherwise might not have the are videos of the kids wrestling, cooking, opportunity to know what cleaning, horsing around (with and without living in a family is like horses!), the occasional argument and the general mayhem that comes from being together. I am struck by their genuine love and care for one another and for Shannon and Troy’s sheer devotion to kids who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to know what living in a family is like; with all the stuff that comes with it, good and bad.
