The road to adoption is often paved with patience, a virtue the Gill family embodied perfectly. Their story with Andrew began when he was a ten-year-old foster child carrying years of displacement and disappointment. While his siblings had been adopted, Andrew remained in the system, a reality that left him emotionally withdrawn. For Dominique and Kevin, the goal wasn’t just to provide a bed, but to build a bridge to a boy who had stopped believing anyone would cross it.
The early transition was understandably difficult. Andrew kept to his room, a silent guest in their home. The Gills responded not with frustration, but with a philosophy of quiet presence. They established routines, offered consistent support, and gave him the time he needed to observe and process that this home was different. They focused on creating an environment of safety, proving through their daily actions that they were reliable and would not give up on him.
A pivotal element in this journey was the organic relationship that developed between Andrew and their son, Joc. Bonding over video games, the two boys built a natural friendship. Joc became Andrew’s peer, confidant, and first real friend in his new life. This relationship was instrumental, offering Andrew a sense of normalcy and acceptance that only another child could provide. It was the missing piece that helped him transition from seeing the house as a placement to feeling it as a home.
After years of nurturing this growth, Dominique and Kevin made the decision to make Andrew a permanent part of their family. The adoption was the formal promise that echoed the commitment they had already demonstrated every single day. When they asked him to be their son, his emotional “yes” was the affirmation of a dream finally realized—the dream of a permanent, unchanging love.
This story highlights a crucial lesson for anyone considering fostering or adoption: healing happens in the quiet moments. It’s in the steady routine, the respectful space, and the simple offer of friendship. The Gills didn’t just adopt a child; they patiently earned the right to be called his parents. Andrew’s journey from a lonely foster child to a cherished son reminds us that family is built not by biology alone, but by the courageous, continuous choice to love.
