Growing up in a secure and nurturing household is not a guarantee for many children. For those who do not have this privilege, their only wish is to feel loved and accepted somewhere. This perspective has led Kevin and Dominique Gill to open their hearts and home to foster children.
Their lives changed when they welcomed a 10-year-old boy that no one else wanted.
During my younger years, I was unaware that not every child had the blessing of loving parents who cherished them. Sadly, there are millions of children around the world who do not have the luxury of a warm and supportive home. One of these children is Andrew, a 12-year-old boy from Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2018, Kevin and Dominique Gill made the selfless decision to become foster parents to Andrew, who was then 10 years old.
Andrew had no contact with his biological parents and had been shuffled between temporary homes arranged by social services. According to reports, he had spent half of his young life in foster care. This unstable and uncertain upbringing had made Andrew introverted and closed off to others. He struggled to open up and connect with anyone, leading many to perceive him as emotionally distant.
Social services described Andrew as ”troublesome” due to his tendency to become easily agitated. This label deterred many from considering him for foster care, but Kevin and Dominique were determined to help him. They firmly believed that love and security could shape children into kind and compassionate individuals.
Andrew temporarily moved in with the Gills in their villa in Nashville, Tennessee, until a permanent adoptive family could be found for him. However, this proved to be a challenging task as no one was willing to take on Andrew, and foster care was only a temporary solution, just like every other time.
Initially, Andrew withdrew and avoided social interaction with the Gills. He preferred to spend his time alone in his room playing computer games and often displayed anger and outbursts. “During his first week with us, he sat in his room with the door closed, looking at old photos. He didn’t want to talk,” shared Kevin and Dominique in an interview with WBIR Channel 10.
Weeks passed, and Andrew continued to struggle to bond with the Gills and their biological children. However, the compassionate couple persisted, never giving up on Andrew. Despite his anger and resistance, they consistently responded with love and understanding. Over time, Andrew began to realize and understand that he was truly loved and accepted by the Gills.
Initially, the Gills’ biological son felt no connection with Andrew, but he also believed that everyone deserved a chance, just like his parents. As they spent more time together, it became evident that the boys had a lot in common. When Andrew realized that this family genuinely cared for him, he let down his guard. The two boys became inseparable, playing video games and enjoying pop-tarts together. Kevin and Dominique Gill were overjoyed to have Andrew as part of their family.
After some time, social services deemed Andrew ready to move in with an adoptive family. “Our mindset was to help him until he found his permanent home,” explained Dominique. However, when the second adoption fell through, she realized that it was meant to be. “God placed Andrew in our lives for a reason. He made sure the adoption didn’t work out so that he could come back to us,” she revealed.
The Gills then asked Andrew if he wanted to become a permanent member of their family, and his answer was a resounding “yes.” Andrew was ecstatic and surprised when he was out walking in the park with Molly Parker, who works at Youth Villages, and was met with the news that the Gills were officially adopting him. “I just turned around the corner and saw everybody. They asked ’will you?’ and I said ‘yeah!'” Andrew exclaimed.
According to statistics, there are over 8,000 children in the Tennessee Foster System waiting for their forever home. Thanks to the kindness and compassion of the Gills, one less child is waiting. “This is my brother, Joc,” said Andrew. “This is my brother, Andrew,” said Joc. Today, Andrew and Joc have formed an unbreakable bond, becoming brothers in every sense of the word.
Kevin and Dominique never imagined that Andrew would become their son, the one they had been waiting for. It was undoubtedly meant to be that he would belong to the Gill family. Stories like this bring tears of joy to my eyes. I am grateful for families like the Gills, and I wish Andrew all the best in his future with his forever family.
If you, too, want to express your gratitude to the Gills and wish Andrew well, please share this article. Let us celebrate the kindness and love that the Gills have shown to Andrew and inspire others to do the same for children in need.