“To go from having nothing to getting every opportunity… was incredible”
By Daisy Vazquez
Sisters Luisa, Maria, and Jesica had their fair share of rainy days growing up in an orphanage in Colombia, where the odds of finding a forever family were not in their favor. However, everything changed for them in the summer of 2004 when a miracle happened. That was the summer Luisa, Maria, and Jesica met their parents, Beth and John.
Before being adopted, there were many thoughts in each sister’s mind about what would happen when they aged out of the orphanage. One sister, Maria, the oldest of the three, worried about how she would care for her younger sisters.
“It always crossed my mind, what if they send them somewhere else? Where would I look for them? I felt a lot of weight because I didn’t want to get separated again,” explained Maria.
On the other hand, Luisa often thought about what would become of her. “Am I gonna end up in the streets when I age out of the orphanage? How many kids am I gonna have? Because that was the pattern, I didn’t want to repeat the story like everybody else.”
One day, they were given the opportunity to travel to the U.S. for five weeks through our Summer Miracles program. That summer, Luisa, Maria, and Jesica stayed in New Jersey with their host family, who were about to introduce them to their forever family.
Meeting Their Family
During their stay, the host family could not care for all three sisters for personal reasons, so they decided the girls would stay with their host’s sister. This transition is when they met Beth and her husband, John, whom Maria, Luisa, and Jesica would soon call “Mom and Dad.”
Although Beth and John initially had no intentions of adopting, they quickly formed an unbreakable bond with the girls. After seeing the possibility of another family adopting Luisa, Maria, and Jesica, they knew they couldn’t let them go. Fortunately, the three sisters felt the same way. When asked about who they envisioned becoming their forever family, the girls immediately knew. “We picked our parents that day, and it was a blessing,” said Luisa.
While this outcome was more than the girls had ever hoped for, it wasn’t always the most effortless ride. Amidst the hope, there were also fears and doubts. Coming home for the first time came with a variety of emotions.
“I was very excited, but at the same time, I was nervous and scared,” said Maria, “I felt like I was coming into a family that I didn’t know; we didn’t speak their language, and they didn’t speak Spanish.”
Even after being adopted, Luisa feared getting attached. “I remember thinking, what if we’re bad? They’re going to give us back.”
Despite the doubt, their story proved that love is thicker than blood. When Jesica, the youngest of the three, battled through some mental health challenges, her parents, Beth and John, were able to get her the help she needed, and she is grateful to them for being there for her and for the life she has been able to build for herself.
“To go from having nothing to getting every opportunity… was incredible,” said Jesica.
The bond formed between everyone was life-changing and a true blessing. “It was meant to be,” said Maria, “it’s like we were born and raised there.”
Being adopted never changed how much love they had for one another. Luisa, Maria, and Jesica say that when asked about the relationship, their parents simply respond, “these are my three girls, that’s it.”
Where They Are Now
Now, all three are thriving. Maria is a mom of two beautiful daughters, Gabriella and Camila. Jesica has a beautiful partner, Jill, and works as a nanny, helping shape little minds and raise them to best the best versions of themselves. And Luisa is a veterinary technician who loves her fluffy patients!
When asked what advice they would give to kids desperately wishing for a loving family, the sisters say their best advice is to hold on to hope. “These people are giving you a second chance at life. You take it, grab on to it, and don’t let go,” said Jesica. Luisa aims to give back one day: “My goal is to pay it forward. One day, I want to be a Kidsave parent who helps save a child; I want to pass it on.”
About Summer/Winter Miracles
Summer Miracles helps older kids (ages 9-15) from Colombia – who have little to no chance of being adopted in their home country due to their age – find adoptive families here in the U.S. Families across the country host these children to give them incredible experiences and advocate for them to help them find a loving forever family.
If you are interested in adoption or would like to learn more about becoming a host family, you can book a phone call with a member of our staff at www.kidsave.org/book-summer/ or email us at summer@kidsave.org.
