Ever since I was a young boy, my biggest dream wasn’t to be a firefighter, an athlete, or someone famous. I wanted to be a dad. Sure, there were days when I imagined being an adventurer like Indiana Jones, but the thought of leading, loving, and raising a child was what truly stayed in my heart. I especially dreamed of having a son to take on adventures, watch sports with, and grow into a real friendship as we both got older.
That dream came closer when I met the love of my life, Francie. We met in college during a missions trip to Los Angeles at the Dream Center. It was there that I first saw her heart for children. I remember a little girl named Miracle clung to Francie and cried when she had to leave. Watching Francie with those kids showed me there was something incredibly special about her.
We started dating and often talked about our future family. Adoption was always part of the conversation since both of us had cousins who were adopted. It wasn’t a decision we sat down and mapped out, it was simply part of our story from the beginning. After dating for almost two years, I proposed in the summer of 2013, and in May of 2014, after we both finished our master’s degrees, we got married.
Before marriage, we promised to wait at least two years before having kids, and we also wanted to travel abroad together. That time was a gift. We grew closer, went on adventures, and built a strong foundation. In 2017, we traveled to Colombia for another missions trip, staying at an orphanage for a week. That trip opened my heart even wider. I saw what daily life with children could look like, and I knew we were ready to be parents.
Just three months later, our dream became real, we found out we were expecting our first child. When the doctor told us we were having a boy, I was over the moon. On July 14, 2016, our son Luke was born. Holding him for the first time changed my life forever. He quickly became my little buddy and my “mini me.” We’ve shared theme parks, sports games, and countless adventures. Being his dad has been the greatest blessing.
When Luke turned two, we tried to grow our family again. In February of 2018, we became pregnant, but sadly, we miscarried in April. The loss left a hole in my heart where I had already made room for our second child. That pain stayed with me, but in time I began to see adoption as the way our family would grow.
Two years passed without success biologically, and by 2020 we both knew it was time to pursue adoption. During the pandemic, we researched agencies and were drawn to one that worked with Latin American countries. With my Cuban heritage and our love for Colombia, it felt like the perfect match.
We began the long process, applications, paperwork, home studies, medical exams, and even writing autobiographies about our lives and marriage. It was exhausting, but it made Francie and me even stronger as a couple and parents. We fundraised, applied for grants, and were humbled by the support we received from friends, family, and even people we hadn’t spoken to in years. By early 2021, our home study was finalized, and by April our dossier was ready.
In August of 2021, we matched with a little boy named Eithan. He was three years old, born prematurely, and had been labeled with autism and significant speech delays. The moment we read his file, our hearts knew he was ours. We prayed, sought medical advice, and said yes.
We shared the news with Luke at Walt Disney World. When we told him he was going to be a big brother, his face lit up with pride. From that moment on, he told everyone about his brother in Colombia.
In November 2021, we flew to Bogotá to meet Eithan. The first meeting was shy, but magical. He connected with Francie right away and even laughed with me after a simple high five. A day later, we picked him up for good. That night, as we rode back to our apartment, he fell asleep on Francie’s lap. We were finally a family of four.
Life in Colombia was not easy. We battled sickness, culture shock, and homesickness, but on December 2, 2021, Eithan was officially ours. Coming home just before Christmas was unforgettable. As Michael Bublé’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” played, I looked around and realized my lifelong dream had fully come true.
Today, Eithan is thriving. He’s in speech therapy, learning phrases, and growing into a joyful, social little boy. He adores Luke, copying everything his big brother does. The bond between them fills our home with laughter.
Adoption hasn’t been without challenges. Bonding takes work, especially with a child who has known so much loss. There are hard days and moments of burnout, but there are also moments that make it all worth it, when Eithan hugs me, tells me he loves me, or plays side by side with his brother.
I dreamed of being a dad my whole life, and now I get to live that dream with two amazing boys. I am beyond grateful for the journey that brought Luke and Eithan into my life. Being their father is more than I ever imagined, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
