Millie Radford and her husband Harley Passmore faced a tumultuous period, grappling with a significant health scare for Harley amidst ongoing stress concerning the adoption of Millie’s four-year-old daughter, Ophelia. The drama unfolded in a recent episode of '22 Kids and Counting,' where their disagreements over Ophelia’s legal adoption culminated in a terrifying emergency.

Harley, who married Millie in a £9,000 ceremony last year, has been a paternal figure to Ophelia since she was six months old, raising her as his own in the absence of her biological father. He deeply desires to legally adopt Ophelia, to formalize his role and ensure she feels fully integrated into their family, especially as her siblings Chester, three, and Elodie, one, share the same surname as him and Millie. Harley expressed his wish for Ophelia to have his name, fearing that the difference would become confusing and upsetting for her as she grows older.

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However, Millie harbored significant reservations about the adoption. Her primary concern was how to sensitively disclose to Ophelia that Harley is not her biological father, fearing the emotional impact on a four-year-old. She also worried about the potential for Ophelia to develop feelings of 'hatred' towards Harley upon learning the truth. A further apprehension was the possibility that contacting Ophelia's biological father, a necessary step for formal adoption, could lead him to suddenly want to be involved in Ophelia's life, which Millie felt would be 'a lot' for the young girl to process.

The tension between Millie and Harley escalated, leading to a heated argument. The following morning, Harley was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after exhibiting alarming symptoms, including one side of his face drooping and slurred speech, prompting fears of a stroke. A panicked Millie contacted her mum, Sue Radford, and stayed by Harley's side in the stroke ward, admitting her shock and guilt, wondering if their arguments had contributed to his condition. She reflected on her life with Harley, acknowledging her inability to imagine motherhood without him.

After an anxious wait, test results revealed that Harley had not suffered a stroke, but was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a neurological disorder causing temporary facial paralysis. This health scare profoundly impacted Millie, prompting a crucial shift in her perspective on Ophelia’s adoption. Feeling 'relieved' that Harley was okay, she realized the fragility of life and decided to move forward with the adoption process. She expressed that if anything were to happen to Harley, she knew Ophelia would want him to be her father legally, solidifying her resolve.

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

Despite Millie's newfound determination, the path to full adoption proved more complex than anticipated. Despite Ophelia’s biological father not being on her birth certificate or showing interest previously, contacting him was a mandatory requirement for full adoption, and he could still refuse consent. This legal hurdle led them to pursue an alternative: a step parental responsibility agreement. This agreement would grant Harley the same parental rights as Millie regarding key decisions about Ophelia’s life, such as her schooling, surname, and medical consent.

Initially, Harley celebrated this compromise with the Radford family, including Noel and Sue, seeming content with the outcome. However, the episode concluded with a surprising revelation: Harley secretly messaged Ophelia’s biological father. He confessed his ongoing desire to be officially listed as Ophelia’s father on her birth certificate, despite the step parental responsibility agreement, emphasizing his four years of dedication to Ophelia’s life. This left the long-term resolution of Ophelia's legal parentage uncertain within Britain’s biggest family, who star in Channel 5’s '22 Kids and Counting.'