Finding Family Through Faith and Grace — The Hilton's on Faith, Loss, and Adoption

Brett and Bonnie Hilton have been married for 34 years and are parents to nine children. Four quadruplets born at 24 weeks through surrogacy passed away shortly after birth. Five children joined their family through adoption, including two domestic infants, two sisters from Ukraine, and a special needs baby who lived briefly. Bonnie was born without a uterus and learned this at age 14, a painful discovery for a young Latter-day Saint girl. In this episode of Eternal Family Adoptions, host Donna Pope speaks with the Hilton's about their faith-filled journey through loss, adoption, and divine guidance.

Love Learned Through Faith

After losing their quadruplets, Brett and Bonnie Hilton adopted two infants through LDS Family Services. Years later, they felt led to adopt internationally and traveled to Ukraine before the Hague Convention, where they adopted two biological sisters, ages two and four, while navigating a corrupt system that required bribes to move the process forward. Bonnie initially struggled to bond with the girls, feeling like she was failing as a mother until prayer confirmed that she was exactly what her daughters needed. Over the years, through love, service, music, and play, the connection she longed for finally grew.

Love That Never Lets Go

Bonnie and Brett Hilton’s family story is filled with redemption and faith. Their eldest daughter, Rebecca—once a rebellious teen who proudly went against church standards and secretly stole the family car over 100 times—has grown into a loving mother with a close relationship with Bonnie. Years later, while working as a social worker, Bonnie and Brett adopted baby Isabella, born at 29 weeks with severe anomalies and a short life expectancy. Isabella lived for two weeks, surrounded by her siblings on earth and in heaven, reminding the Hilton's that love, no matter how brief, is eternal.

Discover faith-based adoption support and resources at eternalfamilyadoptions.org.

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