CHICAGO — Kevin Yohpe believes he found his life’s work in the form of the four young children he and his wife, Katina, adopted.
Overnight in late January 2014, the Yohpes’ North Lawndale household ballooned from two to six as the four siblings — Darniel, 6; Jaylyn, 5; Daisy, 3; and Jeremiah, 2 — moved in.
“I’m trying to think of a word that could describe it correctly, but it was not an easy thing,” said Yohpe, an electrical engineer.
The 6-foot-1 Yohpe lost 20 pounds, going from 180 to 160, in the first few weeks. The four children missed their mother, who voluntarily gave them up for adoption.
“There was a lot of grief because they missed their mom. It was like a death almost,” Yohpe said. “It took a lot of patience.”