By Kidsave Staff | Development Coordinator
In 2017, as Calvin began his journey towards fatherhood, he received a call from Kidsave, asking if he would like to meet some of our Summer Miracles kids who were soon arriving from Colombia. In the summer of 2018, Calvin decided to attend a Summer Miracles event and meet the kids who were here for the summer. That is where Calvin met his soon-to-be son, James.
“We were sitting across from each other playing UNO, my son James kept staring at me the entire time and asking me questions in Spanish that I couldn’t understand... but it was at that pizza-making event that I knew that he was going to be the one,” said Calvin.
James and Calvin made a connection that continued to grow over the summer. Despite the language barrier and need for translation, they both went with the flow and enjoyed the time they spent with one another.
In 2019, at age 12, James was adopted by Calvin.
However, that was not the end of their story. In fact, their family was just getting started. Calvin always knew there was a possibility of adopting again, especially since he was a foster parent. Calvin was in contact with Kidsave again, and that is how he met his second son, Santiago.
James was excited and ready for a sibling, and to Calvin's suprise, the two boys already knew each other from camp back in Colombia. Calvin and James Skyped Santiago, and Santiago's first words were, “Hey, do you still have those jeans you borrowed from me?”
Calvin had no idea the two boys had been close friends back when James was in the program. When the boys both traveled for Summer Miracles in 2017, they had been hosted in two different states. But this time, the two were able to reconnect, and little did they know they would become each other’s family.
“It was surreal to see the connection between the two that quick. I didn’t expect it. I thought we would have to give it time to create some attachment and bonding,” said Calvin.
After having his own experience with his two sons, Calvin feels that one of the best ways to be successful in the process is to “Be patient, be yourself, and be open.” A connection can’t be forced, it comes naturally. “I tell Kidsave all the time. I’m blessed to have James, I’m blessed to have Santiago, and I’m blessed that it worked out in the way it did,” Calvin stated.
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