Everyone deserves a forever home, especially the countless foster children around the world. More than just a place to stay, what they long to have the most is a family, one that will wholeheartedly accept them.
Mid 2018, Dominique and Kevin Gill opened not only their door but also their hearts to a 10-year-old boy named Andrew. The poor kid’s tragic story badly broke the Gill family, they just can’t believe what had happened to him at such a young age.
Get your tissues ready.
Andrew was in state custody since he was six. At that time, his biological parents’ legal rights were already terminated for him and his other four siblings. Luckily, his siblings were adopted right away, but not him.
Dominique told TODAY Parents:
“Andrew has four siblings and they were all adopted right away.”
It broke the poor boy’s heart.
He was just six years old when it all happened, he was just too young to bear all the pain. The bitter experience made him aloof and withdrawn from the people around him. It was like a thin wall that separated him from the rest of the world.
“During his first week with us, he sat in his room with the door closed and looked at old pictures. He didn’t want to talk.”
Keeping his distance from other people was like his defense mechanism. He has just wanted a small circle since then. He wanted peace by being alone and quiet, he just didn’t want to be hurt again.
Andrew would sometimes “scream and behave badly.”
The kid didn’t feel like he belonged. He tried to push his foster family away from his circle. But that just fueled the fire of desire by the Gills, they didn’t give up on Andrew.
The didn’t stop loving and caring for him. They didn’t back down an inch because of the young boy’s “bad behavior.” They knew that he needed help and that’s exactly what they gave him.
Then something beautiful happened.
Dominique’s son, Joc asked Andrew if he wanted to play some video games with him. Surprisingly, the withdrawn kid accepted the invitation and nodded his head.
That became the start of their soon-to-be beautiful friendship.
Aside from playing video games, they also have one specific thing in common- their love of Pop-Tarts! They love eating toaster snacks!
Being friends with Joc, the family’s undying patience, and continuous love, all eventually made Andrew step out of his shell and break the wall that was dividing him from the people who wanted nothing but to show him love.
Sadly, people were not used to seeing them in public.
Whenever they are out, the Gills, together with Andrew would still get the occasional stare from the people.
“Because Andrew is white and we’re Black, people will stare at us,” Dominique said. “They’re confused.”
In this world that we live in today, the battle between colors is still an on-going social issue. But in Andrew’s case, he didn’t see it as an issue at all.
In fact, when he was asked about his race preference for his foster parents, he ticked on the “no preference” box. He simply sees this world differently.
At first, they didn’t plan on adopting him.
They just wanted to be his foster family until the day came that he found his forever family. But after more than a year of being with them, this feeling has tremendously changed.
They then decided to legally adopt him.
Dominique explained:
“Our mindset was we’d help him until he found his forever home. But after the second adoption didn’t work out, I realized God put Andrew in our lives for a reason. God made sure the adoption didn’t work out so he could come back to us.”
July 16, 2020
Youth Villages Counselor, Molly Parker invited Andrew for a little walk in the park. While walking, he saw some familiar faces and it got him confused.
It was like they gathered there for a special occasion.
Andrew shared with WBIR Channel 10:
“I just turned around the corner and saw everybody,” Andrew said, remembering when he saw the Gills surrounded by friends holding signs and balloons.
The Gills finally had the courage to ask Andrew if he wanted to be a part of their family.
His best buddy was also there wearing a shirt with a printed question on it, “Will you be my brother?”
The boy unhesitantly said, “Yeah!” His shirt said it too! What a lovely story!
To see Andrew’s touching surprise adoption announcement, watch the video below.
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