How Family is Adjusting to Life After Adopting Best Friend's Four Daughters

they were like sisters best friends from childhood hi everyone this is Elizabeth diamond Liz diamond was a divorced single mom raising four daughters on her own Laura Ruffino and husband Rico were also busy raising their two daughters then the unimaginable happened was very hard and difficult for all of us and nobody really know knew how to handle it Liz was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and she was terrified what would happen to her girls so she turned to her best friend and made an extraordinary request please adopt my four daughters I wish I could say it was this really long sit-down talk where we went over everything but it wasn't but she said Laura want to talk to you about the girls she said if anything ever happens to me I want you to take my girls and I said okay that was the only time we ever talked about it in April it happened Liz passed away and true to her word Laura and Rico took legal guardianship of Tara 12 Lily five Simona eight and Ella seven they all moved into the Ruffino home outside Buffalo New York we had a conversation and I told them that their real mom who's the best mom ever is in heaven but while they're on earth I will be the earth mom naturally things in the Rapinoe household have changed in a big way oldest daughter Isabella 13 is helping her new sister settle in I want them to be happy and welcome to the new family too I want them to feel at home again everything has grown the laundry the grocery list the daily chores sleeping arrangements in the modest three-bedroom house have been the biggest challenge so far I moved down here so my new sisters could have my room and I got a door and for my room and this is divided by a curtain laura owns a hair salon and Rico is a teacher the household budget tight I just want to raise them the way they need to be raised and just care for them as much as I can she can support from strangers is growing as word gets out about this remarkable family while Inside Edition was there a local car dealership gave them a van that seats eight I talked to Liz all the time I asked her for guidance and help and I know it probably sounds crazy but I want approval we're doing our best and I want her to feel like we're doing a good job I've never thought you could love someone else's children the way you love yours and we do bring it in you

Channel: Inside Edition

Views: 6,232,763

Keywords: adopt, terminal, liz diamond, inside_edition

Id: EvQ6FIgG8Ao

Length: 2min 51sec (171 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 28 2015