Photographed by Kate Swoboda
The Bell Lenoir Family
The Bell Lenoir Family
Suzanne Bell Lenoir and Brusso Lenoir met, fell in love and knew instantly that they were to be partners forever. Suzanne longed to have a child her whole life but never had a partner to share her dream of adopting a child, until she met Brusso. Brusso was already a father of a 30 year old son, always wanted a daughter. Together they decided to pursue adoption a girl between the ages of 8 and 12. They searched for months and months until they found 9 year old Juanita on the internet. Her photo spoke to them in a way they knew she was destined to be with them. Suzanne says, "It's as if she were saying pick me, pick me, directly to us!" Juanita had many placements in her short live and desperately wanted a forever family of her own. She had been let down many times in the past, so much care was taken in making this adoptive match. Their "out-of-the-box" ideas for parenting Juanita's special emotional requirements made them the perfect fit. "We are so blessed to have Juanita in our lives. She had filled our hearts with her huge capacity for love and laughter", says Brusso. Family forever is their motto!