Photographer: Christopher Starky
Sladen Family
Sladen Family
Photographed by Chris Stark Claudia and Reed Sladen were raising 3 children, but felt that they had more to give. They decided to provide temporary care for babies on their way to adoptive families. One baby, Nicholas , had Downe Syndrome and additional medical and developmental problems. When an adoptive home was hard to find, Claudia and Reed knew that they were meant to be his family. Their second adoptive child, Sara, also with Downe Syndrome came two years later. Their third adoptive child was a little girl named Arlene. She had been a tiny preemie in the I ntensive Care Nursery for seven months and then was in an abusive placement until she was rehospitalized after being shaken at 10 months. She came to the Sladens at this time still facing numerous medical challenges. At age 5, when it was clear that Arlene needed an adoptive family, the Sladens again made a lifetime commitment to adoption. As a preschooler, Arlene began to assert clearly and strongly that she was a boy. The Sladens thought this was something that she would likely outgrow. As she grew older and her gender identity grew stronger, the Sladens, supported their child to claim his true nature. Now named Damond, this 18 year old transgender man has been blessed by a family who unconditionally loves and supports all of who he is: a student, an advocate and a leader.