A Million Promises Kept for Miguel
In 2008, single dad, Richard Weedn reached out to Kidsave inquiring if he was eligible to adopt as he was single. Moved by the stories and bios he found on the Kidsave gallery; Richard knew he wanted to do something. Happily, welcomed by Kidsave as a single prospective parent, Richard found out about the Summer Miracles program and set aside any fears he had and volunteered to become a host. And that's when he met Miguel. Richard describes that moment as “some north star calling to me.”
In his youth, Miguel's challenging home life left him being placed in a Colombian orphanage called Fundacion Hogar San Maurizio, in Bogota. He knew of kids from his orphanage who experienced Kidsave's Summer Miracles program and were adopted. “Partners of the orphanage would come and talk with the kids and match them with a host family in the United States,” said Miguel, “and I wanted to take part.”
Before leaving Colombia, Miguel was asked if he cared if his host would be a single dad. Miguel replied, “that doesn't matter to me. I want someone who will be there for me and care for me.” That decision led Miguel on his first flight to the United States, and toward the possibility of a new life.
Touching down at LAX, California, “I was tired and at first confused as I didn't know who these people were, and there were many words I didn't understand,” Miguel recalled. “It was a mix of ‘Wow a new place' and ‘what the heck is going on?'”
Up until that point, Richard and Miguel only had a picture of each other and exchanged a few letters. “I felt my life was only beginning,” remembered Richard. They had a great first meeting at the airport, and upon leaving LAX to his home in Santa Barbara, Richard made a stop at McDonald's and bought Miguel his first milkshake to start their enjoyable summer.
“I got lucky that he had an easygoing personality,” said Miguel. “It made me feel very comfortable.” Together, that summer, Miguel and Richard invented their own language to communicate with each other and had the summer experience of their lives. “It was amazing and miraculous,” recalls Richard. “It felt like all the stars aligned, and I was doing exactly the right thing.”
Richard had mapped out an unforgettable Summer for Miguel right from the beginning. But what Miguel really wanted to do was to go to the beach for the first time and learn how to surf. So that's what they did.
At the beach, Miguel immediately ran to the ocean and dove in through the surf. Richard signed Miguel into a surf camp that happened to have a Colombian surfing instructor. “Through that surf instructor, I was able to find more people who would help me with English and get used to the states,” said Miguel. “I spent that entire summer surfing.”
“Our hosting experience with Kidsave was fantastic,” added Richard. “We drove to events on the weekends. I got to meet other host families who gave me the tools I needed to overcome any fears.”
Their summer together was a whirlwind, and as the weeks flew by, Richard and Miguel developed a strong bond, and each felt they had found a place where they belonged.
At the end of the program, Richard and Miguel parted ways. Although it was only temporary, “it was rough,” Miguel recollected. “It was bitter-sweet. I was leaving the person I had grown so attached to. But I knew that I just had one of the best experiences in my life.”
Richard also knew he wanted to adopt Miguel but couldn't just wait on the adoption process. He had to act.
Richard visited Miguel in Colombia, and with the help of ICBF, Miguel had the opportunity to return to the United States for the Winter Miracles program. Miguel recollected that waking up Christmas morning to a dazzling Christmas tree, all the gifts, and family was shocking. “I never experienced a Christmas like that,” said Miguel. “In Colombia, I would have sat in a room with 300-400 kids, and get a bag, usually with new clothes for that year.'”
After hosting that winter, Richard officially adopted Miguel!
“Attending Kidsave events helped me learn that trust is the basis of everything,” said Richard. “The first year is the hardest. I learned how to translate my brain to turn Miguel's negative comments and frustrations as his way of asking himself, ‘Do I dare trust you?' ‘Are you going to be different?' I had to tell myself to keep a million promises for Miguel and earn his trust every inch of the way.”
Miguel recalled that his dad was always very patient. Coming from an orphanage, placing trust in an adult doesn't come easily. “My dad made sure I knew I could talk to him about any frustrations and spoke to me like an adult, said Miguel.
Richard wanted to give Miguel his best chance for success and enrolled him in private school and clubs to expand Miguel's interests and encourage his education. “My dad taught me always to be nice to others because you get a lot farther in life by being nice,” said Miguel. “He told me always to be respectful, fight for the underdog, and be myself. He is my best friend and the one person I can always go to.”
Over the last ten years, Richard encouraged Miguel to do whatever he wanted to do and find his way. Today with his collected experiences, Miguel views life through a filter. “Miguel's past does not define his future. He always fights for the underdog,” said Richard. Miguel will be graduating from Franklin University Lugano, Switzerland, in December, on the dean's list with a BS in Psychology and a minor in International Business Management. Miguel wants to continue to obtain his Ph.D. and become a practicing therapist specializing in Colombian adoptees and Colombian adoptive parents' challenges.
“Kidsave has changed my entire life,” said Miguel. “I know I will always have a safety blanket, knowing I can always reach to them. My advice for kids going through the Summer Miracles program is to open up and feel all the emotions,” said Miguel. “You don't get to be a kid for long. It's a weird shift from being in an orphanage tossed from place to place but relax, try new things, and be you. Before I met my family, it used to be me, myself, and the way I see it, a family is earned not given. I didn't know that as a kid.”
If you are interested in advocating, hosting, or adoption, “Kidsave is the right place,” expressed Richard. “What Kidsave has pioneered works. The training and personal relationships with the staff were extremely helpful. Be flexible. Reject the gravity of what you think you know. Embrace the new gravity. If you can prove that you are trustworthy on a million promises kept, you got what it takes. Go for it. By far, this was the finest decision I have ever made. Miguel saved my life.” as eligible to adopt if he was single. Searching through Kidsave's bio gallery, Richard found Miguel. He overcame any fear he had and decided to become Miguel's Summer Miracles host. Richard describes that moment as “Some north star calling towards me.”
In his youth, Miguel's challenging home life in Colombia pushed him to live with his grandmother. When that fell through, Miguel was placed in a Colombian orphanage in San Maurizio, Bogota. Miguel knew of kids from his orphanage who experienced Kidsave's Summer Miracles hosting program and were adopted. “Partners of the orphanage would come and talk with the kids and match them with a host family in the United States,” said Miguel. Before leaving Colombia, the kids selected were taught a few basics about American culture and a few phrases in English. Miguel was asked if he cared if his host would be a single dad. Miguel replied, “that doesn't matter to me. I want someone who would be there for me and care for me. I knew it would be better than anything I had.” That decision led Miguel on his first flight to the states, and toward the possibility of a new life.
Touching down at LAX, California, “I was tired and at first confused as I didn't know who these people were, and there were so many languages I didn't understand,” Miguel recalled. “It was a mix of ‘wow a new place' and what the heck is going on.” Up until that point, Richard and Miguel only had a picture of each other and exchanged a few letters. Seeing Miguel run into his arms for a hug, “I felt my life was only beginning,” remembered Richard. Leaving LAX to his home in Santa Barbra, Richard made a stop to McDonald's and bought Miguel his first milkshake to start their enjoyable summer.
“I got lucky that he had an attractive personality, said Miguel. “It made me feel very comfortable.” Together, that summer, Miguel and Richard invented their own language to communicate with each other and had the summer experience of their lives. “It was amazing and miraculous,” said Richard. “It felt like all the stars aligned, and I was doing exactly the right thing.”
Richard organized Miguel's summer days right from the beginning. But what Miguel really wanted to do was to go to the beach for the first time and learn how to surf. At the beach, Miguel immediately ran to the ocean and dove in through the surf. Richard signed Miguel into a surf camp that happened to have a Colombian surfing instructor. Through that surf instructor, I was able to find more people who would help me with English and get accommodated to the states, said Miguel. “I spent that entire summer surfing.” “Our hosting experience with Kidsave was fantastic,” added Richard. “We drove to events on the weekends. I got to meet other host families who gave me the tools I needed to overcome any fears.”
Their summer together was a whirlwind, and as the weeks flew by, Richard fell in love with Miguel and felt he had found a place where he belonged.
At the end of the program, Richard and Miguel parted ways. Although it was only temporary, “it was rough,” Miguel recollected. “It was bitter-sweet. I was leaving the person I had grown so attached to. But I knew that I just had one of the best experiences in my life.”
Richard knew he wanted to adopt Miguel but couldn't just wait on the adoption process. He had to act. He visited Miguel in Colombia, and with the help of ICBF, Miguel had the opportunity to return to the United States for the Winter Miracles program. Miguel recollected that Waking up Christmas morning, seeing the Christmas tree, all the gifts, and family was shocking. “I never experienced a Christmas like that, said Miguel. “In Colombia, I would have sat in a room with 300-400 kids, and get a bag, usually with new clothes for that year.'” After hosting that winter, Richard officially adopted Miguel!
“The Kidsave events helped me learn that trust was the basis of everything,” said Richard.
“The first year is the hardest. I learned how to translate my brain to turn Miguel's negative comments and frustrations as his way of asking himself, ‘do I dare trust you?' ‘Are you going to be different?' I had to tell myself to keep a million promises for Miguel and earn his trust every inch of the way.”
Miguel recalled that his dad was always very patient. Coming from an orphanage, placing trust in an adult doesn't come easily. “In Colombia, we would have to have our trust earned,” said Miguel. “My dad made sure I knew I could talk to him about any frustrations and spoke to me like an adult.”
Richard wanted to give Miguel his best chance for success and enrolled him in private school and clubs to expand Miguel's interests and encourage his education. “My dad taught me always to be nice to others because you get a lot farther in life by being nice,” said Miguel. “He told me always to be respectful, fight for the underdog, and be myself. He is my best friend and the one person I can always go to.”
Over the last ten years, Richard encouraged Miguel to do whatever he wanted to do and find his way. Today with his collected experiences, Miguel views life through a filter. “Miguel's past does not define his future. He always fights for the underdog,” said Richard. Miguel will be graduating from Franklin University Lugano, Switzerland, in December, on the dean's list with a BS in Psychology and a minor in International Business Management. Miguel wants to continue to obtain his Ph.D. and become a practicing therapist specializing in Colombian adoptees and Colombian adoptive parents' challenges.
“Kidsave has changed my entire life,” said Miguel. “I know I will always have a safety blanket, knowing I can always reach to them. My advice for kids going through the Summer Miracles program is to open up and feel all the emotions,” said Miguel. “You don't get to be a kid for long. It's a weird shift from being in an orphanage tossed from place to place but relax, try new things, and be you. Before I met my family, it used to be me, myself, and the way I see it, a family is earned not given. I didn't know that as a kid.”
If you are interested in advocating, hosting, or adoption, “Kidsave is the right place,” expressed Richard. “What Kidsave has pioneered works. The training and personal relationships with the staff were extremely helpful. Be flexible. Reject the gravity of what you think you know. Embrace the new gravity. If you can prove that you are trustworthy on a million promises kept, you got what it takes. Go for it. By far, this was the finest decision I have ever made, Miguel saved my life.”
