Never Alone: Abril’s Story

As a newborn baby, Abril found herself completely alone. She was placed in an orphanage shortly after she was born, with virtually no information about her biological family. For the next two and a half years, she remained in institutional care, without visits from family members.

During a time when she should have been safe in the arms of her mother and father, Abril was cared for by a rotating staff. In those early months and years, her life should have been filled with joy, wonder, and discovery. Instead, her world was confined to the walls of the orphanage.

Like so many children who grow up without a family, Abril began to fall behind. She showed physical, emotional, and cognitive developmental delays.

Although her height and weight were within a healthy range, there were signs she needed more support. White marks on her skin and nails pointed to malnutrition, and she frequently experienced diaper rash. She also struggled with motor and language development, including limited vocabulary and difficulty with pronunciation.

It became clear that Abril needed more than what the orphanage could provide. She needed a family.

A Careful Transition

Thankfully, Abril’s story did not end there.

A family said yes. Yes to providing the loving, supportive care Abril needed and deserved.

Over the course of a month, they visited Abril fourteen times, building familiarity and trust before she officially entered their home.

At first, she showed fear, anxiety, and resistance to change. But through patient, attentive care from her foster parents and consistent support from our psychologist, she gradually began to respond.

Last March, at two and a half years old, Abril officially entered foster care, stepping into a stable, loving home for the first time.

The early days weren’t without challenges. She struggled with limits, often reacting in anger when redirected. She displayed regressive behaviors around eating and drinking, asking for a bottle instead of a cup and having difficulty recognizing when she was full.

Because of their training, her foster parents understood these behaviors were connected to early trauma. They responded with calm, compassionate understanding, recognizing the emotional needs beneath the behavior.

A Family That Understood

Abril’s foster family is deeply committed to foster care. For them, this calling is personal.

Their son-in-law, originally from the United States, spent his childhood in multiple foster homes before being adopted. When the family shared that they would be welcoming Abril into their home, he told them about his own experience of moving between homes and the uncertainty that can come with it.

He encouraged them to care for her until she had a permanent family, and to make sure she would not feel alone while she waited.

While his words did not begin their journey into foster care, they strengthened the family’s resolve. They understood what instability can do to a child. They also understood what consistent love can heal.

So they chose patience. They chose presence. They chose love.

Growing in Confidence

Over time, Abril began to make steady progress.

Now three years old, she continues working on language development, and her ability to express her preferences and communicate her needs has improved significantly. She has started signaling when she needs a diaper change, which is an important step in body awareness.

The family’s structured routines and emotional support have strengthened her motor skills and emotional regulation. She enjoys attending church, sings and dances freely, and encourages other children to join her. Her growing confidence is visible.

Most importantly, Abril has formed secure attachments with her foster family. She seeks them for comfort and reassurance, building the trust that every child needs to thrive.

Never Alone

Today, Abril’s life has been transformed. She is growing in strength, confidence, and connection. Through patient, informed, and compassionate foster care, she is rebuilding trust in the world around her.

Little by little, Abril is discovering what every child deserves: stability, safety, and the comfort of knowing she is not alone.

Thank you for making it possible. Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans—because every child deserves a family.