Some people are just meant to be dads. Meet Lamont Thomas of Buffalo, New York, who, even after having two biological children of his own, decided to adopt 10 more kids in need. Not only is he a great dad to his literal dozen of kin, he has also fostered more than 30 children.

It all started back in 2000. Even though he was single, he decided to become a foster parent after some of his friends “lost their child to the system,” he explained.

And hasn’t looked back since. In fact, he’s only looked forward since then, continuing to regularly adopt children over the last 19 years.

As of today, Lamont is now the dad of 12 children. But that number increased dramatically just recently. In fact, not too long ago, he was only at seven children. So how did he get to 12?

When he came into contact with five brothers and sisters, ages 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, he knew he couldn’t separate them and adopted all of them. He recently appeared on Good Morning America to talk about his experience.

Zendaya, Jamel, Nakia, Major, Michaela were all the children of one of his former foster kids, but quickly the situation escalated.

“The kids ended up being taken into care—I believe it was due to neglect,” Lamont stated on Good Morning America. “They had them in four different homes, four different cities. They were separated for over a year-and-a-half.”

Getting the siblings all together again wasn’t the easiest task, but Lamont managed and went on to foster them for two years. And just recently, he finally officially adopted all of them into his family. It was truly a momentous occasion.

“I was fighting to keep back the tears,” he said when speaking about his adoption day. “Every day I think about it, my eyes swell up. All that we endured to make this happen, it was something.”

While Lamont is used to his older children, he says the younger kids are just going to bring new life into him. “They bring new energy to me,” Lamont shared. “They’re lovable kids, very affectionate. They deserve to be raised as siblings, and that was my fight.”

His other kids had nothing but amazing things to say about their father. “He does anything for everybody,” LaMonica, one of his biological children, said. “He’s a really a great man.”

“We’re all grown now. I can’t believe he’s started all over again,” said Michael, one of his adopted sons. “Lamont has been a life-saver to me. I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, had Lamont not ventured in my life.”

While it’s not easy to do what he does, Lamont wouldn’t change a thing. “I wanted to make a difference by being a difference,” he said. “And I love what I do.”

To hear more snippets from the show from Lamont himself, check out the video below.

How sweet is this story? Do you know anyone who has adopted children this many times in their lives?