I Adopted a Teenage Boy After 10 Families Had Given Up on Him-Two Weeks Later, One Sentence From Him Nearly Made Me Faint

her, and the sealed adoption records prevented Marisol from contacting Ruby’s family without his consent.

After 6 months in my home, Eli’s adoption became final. He was still 16.

We celebrated with pizza and a crooked chocolate cake that read, Officially Family.

For the next 2 weeks, he seemed lighter than I had ever seen him.

Then one evening, he came continue reading …