"No Child Left Behind": Buffalo father adopts sixth child, expanding his family once again

Lamont Thomas, a single father from Buffalo, has once again expanded his family by adopting his sixth child.

 

Known for his unwavering commitment to children in need, Thomas has fostered over 30 children and previously made headlines in 2019 when he adopted five siblings to keep them together.

 

On April 21, 2026, in an Erie County Family courtroom, Judge Kelly Brinkworth finalized the adoption of 4-year-old Mike-Kel, officially making him part of Thomas's growing family.

 

Reflecting on the adoption, Thomas shared, "I didn't think I was going to have number six, but it happened. There's no child left behind. He's a lovable young man, and I'm going to keep him."

 

Mike-Kel first came into Thomas's care in December 2021 as an infant. Initially uncertain about taking in a seven-month-old, Thomas admitted, "It kind of scared me. But after having him for a while, he just grew on me."

 

For Thomas, adoption is about more than providing a home; it's about preserving family bonds. "It's important for siblings to be kept together and raised together," he explained. "Their lives would have been so much different if no one stepped up. They would've been all over the place... and maybe not even known each other."

 

At home, Mike-Kel has already carved out a special place. "He's a helper," Thomas said. "When he comes home from school, he looks for me right away—gives me a high five, tells me about his day. I look forward to that every day."

 

Raising six children as a single father comes with challenges. "It's not easy. It is not easy," he said candidly. "But we're doing it—and I enjoy it."

 

Inside the courtroom, the joy of the moment was shared by the entire family. Thomas's daughter Zendaya summed it up simply: "Because I love him, and he's the best."

 

As the oldest sibling, she takes pride in her role and in the man she calls "Papa." "He's the father," she said. "He takes us to fun places... and he cares for us."

 

When asked what she wanted to say to everyone watching this new chapter unfold, Zendaya didn't hesitate. "I love everybody," she said.

 

For Lamont Thomas, that love is the foundation of everything he's built—a family bound not just by circumstance, but by choice. And with Mike-Kel now officially part of it, that family is stronger than ever.