For Andrew, another failed possibility of adoption meant another disappointment.
But something had changed.
He now had people he could return to.
He had the Gills.
And he had Joc.
The friendship that had started with video games continued even when Andrew's placement changed. The boys remained connected.
Eventually, Andrew returned to the Gill family.
That return forced Kevin and Dominique to think differently about the relationship that had developed in their home.
They had originally viewed themselves as temporary caregivers.
But was Andrew truly temporary anymore?
He ate with their family.
He spent time with their son.
He had routines in their house.
He had history there.
Most importantly, there was already a relationship that looked very much like the one they might have expected between biological brothers.
At some point, the question shifted.
Instead of asking where Andrew's permanent family might be, the Gills began considering whether he had already found it.
Realizing He Was Already Family
Dominique later explained that the failed adoption changed her perspective.
Their original plan had been to support Andrew until another permanent home could be found. But after seeing him return and watching his connection with their family continue, the Gills came to believe that perhaps they were supposed to become that permanent home themselves.
The realization did not come from a single dramatic event.
It emerged from everyday life.
Andrew and Joc were already best friends.
Kevin and Dominique were already caring for Andrew.
The family had already experienced his difficult days as well as his progress.
They had seen what happened when he was afraid.
They had watched him begin to trust.
And they had stayed.
For a child who had repeatedly experienced uncertainty, that consistency mattered.
Research and child welfare guidance repeatedly emphasize that stability can be particularly important for young people who have experienced trauma or multiple placements. The federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, known as AFCARS, tracks information including previous stays in foster care, placement histories, permanency goals and adoption outcomes precisely because stability and permanency are central issues within the child welfare system.
The Gills eventually decided to ask Andrew a life-changing question.
Would he like to become their son permanently?
The family did not simply make the decision around him.
They wanted Andrew himself to know what they were offering.
A permanent family.
The Question Andrew Had Been Waiting For
Youth Villages helped arrange a surprise for Andrew at a local park.
He arrived without fully realizing what was about to happen.
Then he saw the people waiting.
Friends.
Family members.
Signs.
Balloons.
The moment was designed around a question that was far larger than the celebration around it.
Kevin and Dominique asked Andrew if he wanted them to adopt him.
His answer was simple.
Yes.
After years in which adults, courts and child welfare agencies had made major decisions about where he would live, Andrew was being invited into a decision that would redefine his future.