Robert Carter knows what it means to feel alone. Growing up in Ohio’s foster care system, he spent years separated from his own brothers and sisters, longing for the comfort of family. That childhood pain became the driving force behind a remarkable decision years later: at just 29, Carter adopted five siblings so they would never have to endure the same separation.

His journey began when he became a foster parent to three young boys — Robert, Giovanni, and Kiontae. During that time, Carter learned the boys had two older sisters, Marionna and Makayla, placed in different homes. Determined to reunite them, he fought through the legal process and worked with social services to bring the children back together. Step by step, what started as temporary care grew into something permanent and life-changing.

In 2020, Carter finalized the adoption of all five children in a Hamilton County courtroom. Photos from that day show the new family dressed in matching red and black, smiling and hugging after the judge’s ruling. For Carter, it wasn’t just a legal milestone — it was a personal victory against the childhood loneliness he once knew.

He has described the process as both challenging and deeply rewarding. Raising five kids as a single father requires endless patience, long days, and constant planning. Yet he says the work is worth it because the children now have what he lost: each other. “I knew how important it was for them to be together,” Carter has said. “I didn’t want them to go through what I went through.”

Their new home is lively and loud, filled with shared meals, laughter, and everyday chaos. Carter acknowledges the hurdles — from navigating school schedules to managing emotions shaped by early trauma — but says love and stability guide each day.

Beyond his own family, Carter’s story has inspired thousands online and drawn attention to the power of foster care done with heart. Advocates say his decision highlights the need for more foster parents willing to keep siblings united and provide long-term stability.

For five children once headed for separate paths, Carter’s choice changed everything. And for him, the transformation is just as profound: a man once adrift in foster care now stands as the father who built the family he wished he’d had — proving that love, resilience, and second chances can rewrite a childhood story.