One Year Ago Today, Everything Changed: Gabe’s Story

One year ago today, Gabe didn't know what it meant to belong to a family. Today, he knows how to trust, how to play, and how to celebrate.

For the first year of his life, Gabe only knew hardship and neglect. He and his two older sisters lived with their grandparents, and the siblings' biological parents rarely visited. But their grandparents were not able to properly care for the children.

They tasked Gabe's oldest sister with caring for him. But she was a child herself, not even five years old, and she was not capable of providing the care her infant brother needed and deserved.

Just after Gabe's first birthday, authorities stepped in. Gabe and his sisters were placed into an orphanage in Michoacán, Mexico. He spent the next year there, formative months of his life surrounded by institution walls instead of a family's love.

In many parts of the world, Gabe would have stayed in the orphanage indefinitely, without hope and without options. But because of you, his life changed forever.

Just after his second birthday, one year ago today, Gabe was welcomed into the arms of a loving foster family. For the first time, he began to experience safety and belonging.

Learning to Trust

Gabe's foster family immediately began providing the care and attention he needed. But the transition was difficult for a boy who had never known what it meant to be part of a family.

He was easily agitated and often could not calm himself once he started crying. Unused to attention and eye contact, he grew angry when someone followed him to watch over him.

Gabe also struggled to communicate verbally. He rarely spoke and would not follow directions, pointing at objects instead when he needed something.

Most noticeable to his family was Gabe's lack of joy. He didn't know how to play, sing, or dance. At his new daycare, he was aggressive toward other children, hitting them and taking their belongings.

But Gabe's foster family met each challenge with patience and love. Even his foster sister, just a few years older than Gabe, took the time to show him what it meant to belong to a family. Slowly, Gabe began to understand.

Finding His Voice

After a few months, Gabe had made real progress. His vocabulary grew, and he learned new words to help him communicate. He began following instructions and understanding what was asked of him.

He still reacted with anger when limits were set, but Gabe started developing ways to calm himself down. Bath time became one of his favorite ways to settle his emotions.

Gabe began to trust and bond with his foster family. He started seeking out his foster mother as a safe person among strangers, and he formed a special bond with his foster sister, who helped him through every step of the transition.

She taught him how to share toys and play alongside other children his age. He started joining in more at daycare, building friendships with his peers. And Gabe found joy: he learned to sing and dance by watching and copying the people around him.

A Birthday to Remember

Recently, Gabe found another reason to celebrate. For the first time in his life, he had a family to celebrate his birthday with.

His foster family threw a joint party for Gabe and his foster sister, who was thrilled to share the moment with her brother.

Gabe also celebrated at daycare with his classmates. His teachers said he was so overwhelmed by the experience that he cried, moved by something most children take for granted.

They told his foster family it was one of the most moving moments they'd witnessed, one they believe Gabe had likely never experienced before. And they thanked the family for the guidance, support, and love they have poured into him.

Thank you for making that possible. You gave Gabe a family, and you gave him hope for the future. We are so grateful, and we know this is only the beginning of his story.

Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans. Because every child deserves a family.