That moment broke something in me. I realized that my children saw me not as a father or husband but as a source of wealth to be claimed. I decided to change my will entirely. I called my lawyer and instructed him to disinherit Caroline and Ralph completely. I wanted to leave everything to the triplets in foster care. When my lawyer asked why I would leave my fortune to children I had never met, I told him I would explain everything in person—and I asked him to begin the process of making me their legal guardian.
The weeks that followed were difficult. At 87, I faced skepticism from social workers and legal professionals. They doubted my ability to care for three young boys at my age. But I assured them I had help—a full-time housekeeper and a nurse on call—and the resources to provide a loving, stable home. When asked why I chose these boys out of thousands in foster care, I said simply, “Because I owe them a debt I can never repay.” The social workers didn’t understand at the time, but eventually approved the guardianship.Continue reading…
