Parents-of-22 Sue and Noel Radford in family adoption drama which ends in hospital dash over worrying ‘stroke' fears
SHOCK ADMISSION Parents-of-22 Sue and Noel Radford in family adoption drama which ends in hospital dash over worrying 'stroke' fears
MILLIE Radford is left shaken when husband Harley Passmore is rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke in this week's episode of 22 Kids and Counting.
The mum-of-three, who wed Harley in a £9k ceremony last year, reveals how they had been going through a stressful patch over whether or not he should adopt Ophelia.
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Millie Radford is unsure whether husband Harley Passmore should adopt her four-year-old daughter Ophelia, in this week's 22 Kids and Counting
Credit: Instagram
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Harley goes to hospital in an ambulance over 'stroke' fears, but he later finds out he has Bell's Palsy
Credit: Channel 5
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Harley started dating Millie when she was pregnant with Ophelia, and has raised her as his own ever since, with the biological dad not on the scene.
In the show, Harley is desperate to legally adopt the four-year-old girl, who he helps raise along his and Millie's kids, Chester, three, and Elodie, one.
He says: 'Obviously Millie did have Ophelia when we first met.
'I have been in Ophelia's life since she was six months old.
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'Obviously, she's not my biological daughter, but I do treat Ophelia like she's my own.
'I do want people to look at me and Ophelia like 'oh they're father and daughter.'
'Ophelia doesn't have the same name - Millie, does, Chester does, Elodie does.
'Felt like, well, we can't leave Ophelia there out, and when she gets a bit older, she'll start understanding, like, why is my name different to Chester and Elodie's and mummy's and daddy's?'
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But raising the idea of adopting Ophelia has caused friction with Millie.
The 23-year-old says: 'I've been worried for Ophelia.
Britain's biggest family gets even bigger as Millie Radford reveals 'surprise new addition' to her brood
'I'm worried just because we haven't told Ophelia that Harley isn't actually her biological dad. 'Ophelia is only four, and it's a lot to handle and cope with at such a young age.'
Later in the show she adds that she also has another big concern about it.
She explains: 'I think the worry was that it can turn a lot of hatred towards Harley from Ophelia when she finds out that Harley isn't actually her biological dad and she has another dad.'
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Harley is keen to adopt Ophelia, as he has been with Millie ever since Ophelia's birth, despite not being her biological father
Credit: Channel 5
HOSPITAL VISIT
Disagreements come to a head when Millie and Harley have a blazing row, followed by him being rushed to hospital in an ambulance in the morning.
A panicked Millie could be heard phoning mum-of-22 Sue Radford, saying: 'I'm in an ambulance with Harley.
'One half of his face has all gone lopsided.
'It looks like he's had a stroke. He's slurring his words.
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'He's really panicking, I'm panicking.'
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Harley's health shock makes Millie rethink her adoption views
Credit: Channel 5
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Sue with granddaughter Ophelia
Credit: Instagram/@theradfordfamily
Sue and Noel bring the three kids to their 10-bedroom Morecambe house, while Millie keeps Harley company in the stroke ward in hospital, admitting she is in 'shock' from the 'scary' ordeal.
She adds: 'I felt guilty straight away wondering if it was arguing that had caused it.
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'If something happened to him how would I feel then?
'I've pretty much done my whole motherhood with Harley, I can't imagine him not there.'
After a nail-biting night on the ward waiting for results, Harley is told he hasn't had a stroke, but has got Bell's Palsy.
Bell's Palsy is a neurological disorder that causes paralysis or weakness on one side of the face.
He says: 'They came in with my results, my MRI results were totally fine which means I didn't have a stroke.'
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ADOPTION DECISION
Following Harley's stressful stint in hospital, a 'relieved' Millie decides to rethink Harley adopting her daughter.
She says: 'When I thought Harley was having a stroke, it was really scary.
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Harley proposed to Millie at Disney, and they are now married
Credit: Channel 5
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Proud dad Noel Radford at Millie's wedding last year
Credit: Instagram/millieradfordd
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Millie and some of her 21 siblings at her wedding
Credit: Instagram/millieradfordd
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'He was worried as well, and I was worried because of the paralysis side of it.
'What if he would never have been able to cope with the three kids again after that, or handle his life before that?
'I'm filling in the forms for the process of Harley adopting Ophelia.
'It's made me change my mind, because if anything was to happen to Harley, I know that Ophelia would have loved Harley to be her dad, so that is what I'm going to make happen.'
FAMILY CONCERNS
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Millie eventually agrees that Harley can applying for a step parental responsibility agreement
Credit: Millieradford/Instagram
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However, after some research, the process proves to be trickier than they had first anticipated.
This is despite the biological father's name not being on Ophelia's birth certificate as he 'wasn't interested' in being a dad.
Speaking of their adoption hurdles, Harley says: 'It's a lot harder work than we thought it would'.
Millie adds: 'If we went down the adoption route we'd have to get in touch with Ophelia's biological dad.'
Harley shared: 'He could just say no, 'I don't want you to adopt her.''
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Millie also confesses that if they got in touch with the dad, he may want to be in Ophelia's life now which would be 'a lot' for the young girl.'
In the end, they decide to go down the route of Harley applying for step parental responsibility agreement, which means he would have the same rights in terms of decision making.
How many people are in the Radford family?
Sue and Noel Radford have 22 children and 11 grandchildren. Noel - Born December 24, 1970
Sue - Born March 22, 1975
Chris - Born May 7, 1989 - married to Nicole Spencer and have three children: Maisie (June 3, 2017), Jacob (July 31, 2019), and Oaklyn, September 21, 2021). He is a stepdad to Nicole's four kids
Sophie - Born December 13, 1993- married to Joe Broadley and have three children: Daisy (August 27, 2012), Ayprill (October 13, 2014) and Leo, (December 24, 2015)
Chloe - Born July 31, 1995- dating Jake Wallace and have one child: Mila (July 23, 2022), and due to have baby number two in 2025
Jack - Born April 9, 1997
Daniel - Born March 3, 1999
Luke - Born October 1, 2000
Millie - Born August 29, 2001 - married to Harley Passmore and have three children: Ophelia (September 12, 2020), Chester (February 20, 2022), and Elodie (September 19, 2023)
Katie - Born November 14, 2002 - dating Connor Carter and have baby Ronnie (October 8, 2024)
James - Born October 17, 2003
Ellie - Born May 6, 2005
Aimee - Born April 21, 2006
Josh - Born July 3, 2007
Max - Born December 11, 2008
Tillie - Born May 2, 2010
Oscar - Born October 22, 2011
Casper - Born October 3, 2012
Alfie - Stillborn July 6, 2014
Hallie - Born June 3, 2015
Phoebe - Born July 24, 2016
Archie - Born September 18, 2017
Bonnie - Born November 6, 2018
Heidie - Born April 3, 2020
This would mean he would have input regarding Ophelia's surname, what school she goes to and consent during operations.
Harley initially seems overjoyed, celebrating with Noel, Sue and the family on the beach with some drinks and some fish and chips.
However, at the end, he hints that he is still keen to adopt Ophelia, and even texts the young girl's biological father behind Millie's back.
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He says: 'Even though I have the rights, I do want it on Ophelia's birth certificate to say I'm her father.
'I've just messaged Ophelia's biological father.
'I can't help the way that I feel, I've put four years into Ophelia's life.'
The Radfords are Britain's biggest family and star in Channel 5's 22 Kids and Counting, which airs on Sunday night at 8pm.
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