AUSTIN, Minn. — Shelly Burman has always had an abiding passion for the underdog. In her case, it found expression in adopting children with special needs. And not just a couple — enough to fill the starting line-ups of two baseball teams.

Finding herself in the presence of a child who had been neglected, abandoned, suffering or written off, Burman found it impossible to say no. All told, the Austin, Minnesota, woman has adopted 18 children, all of them with special needs. She would have adopted more, but social workers won’t approve anymore, Burman said. Two have since died of their medical conditions.

“I knew I wanted to adopt a child with special needs,” Burman said. “I would have been happy if I had a child with special needs. That’s what I thought was going to be my plan.”

Burman o

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