From Abandoned to Loved: Mauricio’s Story
At just a few weeks old, Mauricio found himself completely alone. The baby boy had been abandoned in a car seat outside a home in Michoacán, Mexico.
For days, authorities searched for his family, but they were unable to locate anyone connected to him. With no other leads, they placed Mauricio in an orphanage in the capital city of Morelia.
In many parts of the world, Mauricio would have remained in the orphanage while the government sorted out his legal situation to determine whether he was eligible for adoption. He would have faced a childhood of institutionalization—and an uncertain future.
But thankfully, there was a better option for Mauricio. Just 12 days after arriving at the orphanage, he was welcomed into the loving arms of a foster family.
A Family Says Yes
The Torres family had previously fostered a young girl who made incredible progress in their care. When they received the call about Mauricio, they immediately said yes.
They were ready to give this beautiful baby boy the love and attention he needed and deserved.
When the family brought Mauricio to a pediatrician, the doctor estimated he was about six weeks old. Physically, he was in remarkably good health. But emotionally, he needed extra support.
Even at such a young age, Mauricio was already developmentally delayed. He rarely cried, making it difficult to know when he needed care. He didn’t smile, make sounds, or show signs that he recognized his foster family.
Three Months Later
Thanks to the personal care and one-on-one attention from the Torres family, Mauricio began to thrive. His emotional development progressed rapidly, and he started hitting important milestones like smiling and babbling.
A few weeks later, he began crying when he needed something—an essential step in healthy development. Mauricio was learning that if he cried, someone would come and help him. He also enjoyed being held and comforted by his foster parents.
Physically, he continued to grow and gain weight, supported by consistent nutrition and loving care.
experiencing joy
Today, at seven months old, Mauricio is a happy, joyful baby. He loves interacting with his foster family. When they speak to him, he responds with wide smiles and bright eyes, trying to mimic their facial expressions. He frequently babbles, making sounds—and even shouting—when he gets excited.
And Mauricio isn’t the only one experiencing joy. The Torres family’s three children adore him. They love to hold him, play with him, and make him laugh. Playtime is full of big belly laughs and precious moments they’ll never forget.
His appetite is strong, and he continues to gain weight and grow taller. His strength and motor skills have improved, and he can now sit in his high chair and feed himself with his hands.
Most importantly, Mauricio now knows what it means to be part of a loving family. While he waits for his future adoptive family, he is experiencing the support, stability, and care he needs to grow, develop, and thrive.
This beautiful little boy has hope for the future, because of you. Thank you for being Mauricio’s hero—and for changing his life.
givingtuesday: Celebrating 10 Years of Hope
For the last ten years, you have been making a difference for kids just like Mauricio. Since launching in November 2015, hundreds of children who once lived in institutions are now growing up surrounded by the love, stability, and belonging of family. And it’s all thanks to you. We are so grateful for your continued support and generosity.
And in just a few days, you can help more children like Mauricio experience the love of a family. GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity, is coming up on December 2. We’d love for you to join us as we celebrate 10 years of hope.
We’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $250,000—our biggest goal ever! This will help meet the growing need as we launch our newest locations in Mae Sot, Thailand, and Jalisco, Mexico, while strengthening family-based care across our existing programs. Ultimately, it means more children in loving families.
And from now through GivingTuesday, you will double your impact! A generous group of supporters is matching every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $125,000. If you’d like to jump in early, our GivingTuesday page is live now, and all gifts (even early ones!) will be matched.
Thank you for joining us on GivingTuesday. Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans—because every child deserves a family.