In a perfect world, all kids have caring parents who love and shield them, tucking them in at night after making sure there are no monsters under the bed. Sadly, the truth is often sadder. Numerous children are removed from harmful parents and end up in foster care, hoping for years to find a new family. Fortunately, a boy from Tennessee was fortunate to discover a loving family that cared for him completely, and to top it off, his best friend became his brother. How awesome is that?
They say you can’t pick your family, but you can choose your friends, and if you’re really fortunate, those friends can become like family.
Losing a parent is really tough, no matter what happens. Andrew’s parents lost their rights when he was only six years old.
At the age of 10, he came to Nashville to stay with the Gill family. Initially, he was shy and didn’t feel like talking, preferring to stay in his room, gazing at old photos.
Andrew has four siblings who got adopted right away, leaving him by himself. This situation stirred up a lot of complex emotions in the heart of a young kid.
The Gills were meant to be Andrew’s temporary parents until he found the perfect family. They didn’t anticipate growing fond of this reserved boy and embracing him into their home and hearts.
“He sat in his room with the door closed and looked at old pictures. He didn’t want to talk”
In an interview with Today Parents, Dominique Gill, Andrew’s mom, shared the challenges they faced during the initial weeks as a family. Andrew used to “scream and act out,” attempting to distance himself, but Dominique and her husband Kevin remained determined not to give up on him. They assured Andrew, “We are going to get you together,” and indeed, they did.
Through patient love and continuous efforts, Andrew gradually learned to manage his feelings and began connecting with his newfound family. Witnessing the transformative power of love in healing emotional wounds and fostering a happier child is truly gratifying.
Andrew began to open up more when Joc asked him to join in playing video games.
Childhood friendships are really simple. If kids share the same love for certain games, like Andrew and Joc with Minecraft, they become best friends easily.
During tough times, having a friend like Joc was what Andrew needed to get through challenges. Joc supported him as a friend, and surprisingly, he soon became Andrew’s brother too.
Andrew got better and behaved well. He was thought about for adoption twice, but both times it didn’t work out.
Dominique understood perfectly – the reserved boy was meant to join their family.
She told Today Parents, “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.”
“Thank you you for not giving up on me,” he cried when the Gills invited him to stay with them forever.
It was truly amazing – finding out that someone wants you to be a part of their family, especially when you’ve experienced being left behind.
Dominique and Kevin decided to make this important choice after noticing a strong connection between the boys. In May 2020, Andrew was posed with the most significant question of his life. And it wasn’t just a simple question – it turned into a whole celebration!
During a walk, a counselor from Youth Villages popped the question to Andrew, and he said yes. He didn’t anticipate the balloons, signs, and the beaming smiles of the Gills and their friends. And he certainly didn’t expect to see Joc wearing a shirt that read, “Will you be my brother?”. Overwhelmed, Andrew couldn’t hold back his tears and gratefully embraced the offer to join his new family.
Now, Andrew is a joyful boy, a caring son, and a brother. His family completely transformed his life in the best way.
Dominique happily mentioned that another family had begun the adoption process, but she insisted to her husband that they couldn’t let it happen. “He’s ours” she said. She was determined to bring Drew into her family, confident that her husband and son wouldn’t question her choice. Seeing Drew’s smile and his close bond with Joc were all the confirmation she needed.
The adoption process took longer than usual, about 6-7 months, due to COVID restrictions. Everything had to be done through Zoom, but it was worthwhile. “We couldn’t have ever thought about a more perfect Drew to add to our family. Looking back there’s no way I could say our family was complete. Drew needed us and we needed him more. He’s my shadow and we will never regret one day or bad memory” his mom shared in an interview. And when asked what is their favorite memory as a family she said, “Traveling. It’s so many memories but if I had to choose our Disney cruise. We sincerely wish them many more trip and happy memories in the future!”
Dominique and Kevin selected Andrew to be their son. Welcoming someone into your family isn’t an easy decision, but love is a choice. Every day, we choose to love someone more than we struggle with their flaws. Each day, we choose to love more than the day before, and with time, love becomes the nurturing water for someone’s soul garden, a sight reserved for those who love them.
