08/01/2026
I was 21 when I found a four-month-old baby behind a dumpster—and my life changed that day. I was walking behind a grocery store when I heard crying. At first, I thought it was a cat. Then I saw a baby, alone, wrapped in a thin blanket. I picked him up and called for help. Police and social services came, but no parents were ever found. At the hospital, doctors told me the baby has Down syndrome. The court asked if I could take temporary custody. I said yes, thinking it would be for a short time. I named him Eli. Days turned into months. I did the feedings, the doctor visits, the therapy appointments. I learned as I went. Later, I was asked if I wanted to adopt him. I didn’t plan to become a parent that day. But I chose to stay—and Eli became my son.
