13-Year-Old Boy Abandoned by Foster Parents Is Adopted by a Single Father 2 Years Later

A truly heartbroken man received the best gift of his life when he was asked to take care of a young boy who had been left in a foster home after being abandoned by his adopted parents.

Peter Mutabazi from Charlotte, North Carolina, never knew what God had in store for him until he crossed paths with Tony. The boy had been in foster care since his birth mother abandoned him at the age of 2.

When he turned 4, he was adopted by a family in Oklahoma who served as elders in their church. Unfortunately, after bringing him up for nearly 10 years, his adopted parents abandoned him at the age of 11, leaving him at a hospital. They never came back afterward.

Apparently, the family had signed an agreement, giving up their parental rights and turning their back on the child. It was a case of "failed adoption." During this time, Peter was heartbroken over saying goodbye to 2 boys he had fostered for 7 months. He shared:

"I had been through many hours of training to become licensed as a foster parent, but none of the instruction taught me how to say goodbye to these boys who possessed such a large chunk of my heart (sic)."

When the social worker, Jessica Ward, called Peter, asking him to look after Tony for the weekend, he initially refused, telling her he needed some time to process his feelings and grieve. Eventually, she succeeded in convincing him to take care of Tony.

When they first met, it only took about 20 minutes for Tony to ask Peter if he could call him "Dad." Peter was astounded because he had planned not to get attached to this kid or ask him any questions, but what he experienced was beyond his comprehension.

While Peter initially told Tony not to call him dad, he changed his mind when he learned Tony's life story. Peter even confessed that after learning what the young boy had endured, he was moved to tears and couldn't believe people could do such a thing.

Tony would often ask if his parents were coming back for him, and all Peter could tell him was "No." After spending time with the young boy and learning about his failed adoption, Peter decided to take him in.

Somehow, Peter was able to resonate with Tony's story because he, too, had been through a rough patch as a kid. When he was 10 years old, he ran from his abusive home in Uganda, following which a parent figure took care of him. He further added:

"I grew up the poor of the poorest people on the planet. I grew up where no one told me to dream, that there was no future for me."

Looking after children living in unpleasant and difficult conditions was a part of Peter's job, as he worked for a non-profit organization called World Vision United States.

On November 12, 2019, Tony came to share Peter's last name, and the official adoption procedures were finalized in a Charlotte Courthouse. The father-son duo has been inseparable ever since. Talking to Good Morning America, he commented:

"He's the nicest, smartest kid I've ever had. From day one, he's always called me 'dad.' He's proud to show me at school and say, 'Hey, he's my dad.' That's something that I love about him."

Peter Mutabazi shares his experience as a single father to Tony and his other foster kids on his official Instagram account, capturing numerous memorable moments with his adorable family.