Long Island Family Welcomes 10th Child

WEST ISLIP, NY - For those who struggle taking care of one or two kids -- meet the Hernandez family, who recently welcomed baby number 10 to the world.

Coram couple Dawn Marie and Joseph Hernandez became the proud parents to their 10th child, Savannah Leigh, on July 7 at about 2 p.m.

Savannah was born in the same hospital as all 10 of her siblings, Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Islip, by the same doctor, Joseph Livoti.

This is the most children Livoti has ever delivered from one mother.

"It is unique in today's day and age [to have so many children], but i think it's all about love," he said during a press conference. "I think it's about love for family, love for community and I think this family really exemplifies all of that."

The couple never planned to have so many children, but after every child just kept deciding to have one more.

Their oldest is 15-year-old Joseph Anthony, who was then followed by 12-year-old Rebecca Emily, 10-year-old Nicholas James, 9-year-old Madison Lynn, 8-year-old Julianna Rose, 7-year-old Alex Christopher, 6-year-old Zoey Marie, 4-year-old Noah Ryan, and 2-year-old Hunter Jaxson.

After getting married, Bohemia native Dawn Marie and Bay Shore native Joseph, first said they didn't want to have any children at all.

However, the two changed their minds when Joseph realized he wanted his own family after being raised as a foster child.

"I was around lots of kids foster care since about 6 days old," he said.

And the children are not the only thing keeping the couple busy. Dawn Marie not only works as a nurse and a professor at Adelphi University but is currently studying to receive her doctorate while Joseph runs his own business.

However, Dawn says that she is "loving" being a mother to all those kids.

"This is my life, I love being a mother," she said. "I love the children and it's an amazing feeling to a mother to all these children."

She also said the secret is having a supportive husband.

"That's the key. My husband is so supportive of my career, of the children, of the household work...," she said.

The eldest Hernandez child also helps out a lot with the younger kids.

"It's a lot of work but I love them all and I'd die for all of them," the teen, who attends Newfield High School in Selden, said. "They're going to be my friends for the rest of my life."

You would think that their 8-bedroom home would be a mess with so many kids, but Joseph says he's a "clean freak."

"If you came to our house you wouldn't believe 12 people live there," he said.

And it might not end there. When asked if they would have any more children, the couple both said that "only time will tell."

Photo: Facebook.com/Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center