A couple from Cincinnati, Ohio, struggling to conceive, had no idea what was coming their way. BJ Durel and his wife Calena Durel had always intended to adopt after having given birth.
However, following their 5-year-long fertility struggle, this goal became a more immediate reality. The pair, then starting as foster parents, met sisters Aubree and Mariah in 2016.
The two kept in contact with the pair, and eventually, they became their legal parents on August 6, 2019. At that time, Mariah was 10 years old, and Aubree was 7 years old.
In February 2019, Mariah and Aubree became older sisters to their two newborn siblings. Calena stated that Aubree, who was younger than Mariah, was excited to be a big sister for the first time.
As if hinting at the future, in December 2018, BJ and Calena moved into a 5 bedroom house with Mariah and Aubree. The then-new-mother stated that she and her husband were wishing that all these rooms would someday be filled.