In a dramatic turn of events on the latest episode of 22 Kids and Counting, Millie Radford faced a harrowing experience when her husband, Harley Passmore, was rushed to the hospital amidst fears of a stroke. The incident unfolded as the couple navigated a period of intense stress surrounding Harley’s desire to legally adopt Millie’s four-year-old daughter, Ophelia, a decision that had caused considerable friction between them.

Harley Passmore has been a steadfast presence in Ophelia’s life since she was just six months old, raising her as his own even though he is not her biological father. He passionately articulated his wish to adopt Ophelia, expressing his desire for their familial bond to be officially recognized and for Ophelia to share the same surname as Millie and their two children together, Chester and Elodie. Harley believed that formal adoption would prevent Ophelia from feeling excluded or questioning her place in the family as she grew older.

However, Millie harbored significant reservations. Her primary concern revolved around how Ophelia, at such a young age, would process the revelation that Harley was not her biological father. Millie also worried about the potential for Ophelia to harbor resentment or “hatred” towards Harley once she discovered the truth. A further anxiety was the possibility that contacting Ophelia’s biological father, a necessary step for adoption, could lead to him re-entering Ophelia’s life, which Millie felt would be a lot for the young girl to handle.

The tension between Millie and Harley escalated into a heated argument, shortly after which Harley experienced a sudden health scare. Millie, in a state of panic, described Harley’s face becoming lopsided and his speech slurred, leading her to believe he was suffering a stroke. An ambulance was called, and Harley was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted to the stroke ward. During this terrifying ordeal, Millie confessed to feeling immense guilt, questioning if their recent arguments had contributed to Harley’s condition. She reflected on their shared journey of parenthood, admitting she couldn't imagine life without him.

After a night of anxious waiting, the family received a relieving diagnosis: Harley had not suffered a stroke, but rather Bell’s Palsy, a neurological disorder characterized by paralysis or weakness on one side of the face. This health crisis profoundly impacted Millie, prompting her to re-evaluate her stance on Ophelia’s adoption. The fear of what could have happened to Harley, and the thought of Ophelia not having him as her legal father, compelled Millie to initiate the adoption process, stating, “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.”

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Despite Millie's newfound resolve, the adoption process proved to be unexpectedly complicated. Despite the biological father’s name being absent from Ophelia’s birth certificate and his prior disinterest, contact was required. Both Millie and Harley learned that the biological father could simply refuse the adoption, or worse, decide he now wished to be involved in Ophelia’s life. Due to these hurdles, they ultimately decided to pursue a step parental responsibility agreement. This legal arrangement would grant Harley the same rights as a biological parent regarding key decisions for Ophelia, such as her surname, schooling, and medical consent.

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Harley initially celebrated this agreement with the Radford family, including Millie's parents Sue and Noel, acknowledging the progress made. However, at the episode’s conclusion, Harley revealed his enduring desire for full adoption, particularly for his name to appear on Ophelia’s birth certificate. Driven by this deep conviction and having invested four years into Ophelia’s upbringing, he secretly messaged Ophelia’s biological father, hinting at a new, potentially challenging, chapter in their family's journey. The Radford family, renowned as Britain’s largest, continues to share their lives on Channel 5’s 22 Kids and Counting.