Kevin and Dominique Gill chose to take care of some kids in need until they could be adopted. When a boy named Andrew came into their lives, everyone knew he would only be there briefly. But everyone in the house grew to like Andrew, and after two years he was formally adopted by the Gills as their son.
In 2018, Kevin and Dominique got a call to take in 10-year-old Andrew, who had just been released from two facilities. It was the 26th foster home he had lived in. They had already fostered kids before Andrew, who was their third child.
Dominique says that the beginning of the experience was “rough,” but his family did not want to give up on him no matter what.
After being turned down many times, a family adopts their son’s best friend, proving there are no rules for love.
The Gills wanted to do everything they could to help the family who decided to adopt Andrew without any problems because they knew how much he wanted a family. But that family decided Andrew wasn’t a good fit for them, so the agency sent him back to the Gills.
Kevin and Dominique were worried about Andrew because they knew that this situation could make him angry and cause him to act badly. But he was very glad to see them again.
After being turned down many times, a family adopts their son’s best friend, proving there are no rules for love.
After three months, the service told both Andrew’s parents and Andrew himself that they were looking for other people who might want to adopt him. During this time, Dominique saw that Andrew got along well with her son Joc and they missed each other when they weren’t together.
Dominique told her husband that she didn’t want to give up Andrew again and that her heart told her that adopting him would be right. Her only worry was that Andrew didn’t say he wanted to stay with the family forever since he was trying to push everyone away.
Out of respect for Andrew, Dominique wanted everyone to ask him if he wanted to join the family. She told him he had seen many faces, some only temporary. She wanted him to know that he had a town behind him and that this family wouldn’t give up on him.
They took him for a walk with everyone in the park, and he was surprised to find out that the agency had been talking to the Gills the whole time. Since then, Andrew has found a loving family, and his best friend, Joc, has become his brother.
Andrew has been part of the Gill family for 4 years, and it’s been 2 years since he became their son. Andrew and Joc are now teenagers with their interests, but they still like to play games together and their rooms are right next to each other. Their mother says that even though they have some differences, they are still “the best friends they’ve always been.”
Kevin and Dominique Gill and their four children, Joc, Andrew, Kynnedi, and KJ, now comprise the Gill family.
People think Andrew is not with the Gills when they are out in public, or they try to start a conversation about how he could be their kid. Joc and Andrew also had problems at school with kids not believing they were related, so Andrew had to show them pictures.
The family says they treat all their kids equally, respectfully and honoured. No one is less important to them than anyone else. They own four businesses, and while they want to support black businesses, they also want their white child to have the same chances as their other children, so they are willing to support any business. The family wants everyone to feel like they belong and are loved.
Do you know of other stories showing how love can take many forms?
