According to recent data, there are approximately 424,000 children in foster care nationwide, with almost 8,000 waiting to be reunited with their families or find a forever home in Tennessee alone.
Sadly, there are less than 4,000 foster families in the state, leaving many children without the loving homes they deserve.
One of those children was Andrew, a 12-year-old boy from Nashville. Andrew had spent half of his life moving from one family to another until he found a special foster family – the Gills.
Kevin and Dominique Gill already had a son of their own, Joc, who became fast friends with Andrew. The boys immediately hit it off, spending their days playing games, going for walks, and having a lot of fun together. Recognizing the strong bond between the boys, Kevin and Dominique made the decision to file for adoption, making Andrew an official member of their family.
Andrew had no idea that his life was about to change forever. One day, while walking in the park with Molly Parker, an employee at Youth Villages, he was surprised with the news that his foster parents were adopting him. Overjoyed, Andrew quickly agreed to become a permanent part of the Gill family.
Now, not only are Andrew and Joc best friends, but they’re also brothers. It’s a heartwarming story that reminds us of the power of love and the importance of finding a forever family.