Man Who Was Abandoned as a Baby and Bullied Finally Finds True Love

A baby was rejected by his parents at birth because he was born without arms or legs. He was then adopted by a loving family, and today, he's all grown up and inspiring millions of people through his incredible story.

Not every child is fortunate enough to have a supportive and caring family. Many children lose their parents at birth, while some are abandoned at a very young age. Such tragic incidents are likely to take a toll on kids' emotional and mental well-being.

Gabe Adams-Wheatley's life hit an all-time low when his parents abandoned him at birth. While his life could have easily ended at that very moment, the universe had far bigger plans for him.

ABANDONED BY BIRTH PARENTS

Gabe was abandoned in a Brazilian hospital by his biological parents. However, nine months later, a lovely couple from Utah, US, adopted him after seeing his picture in a grocery store. His adoptive mother, Janelle Adams, told "TODAY":

“We had our concerns, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the sweet little boy so far away without arms, legs, or a family."

Janelle and Ron had 13 biological kids of their own, but after seeing Gabe, they knew they wanted to welcome him into their family. Eventually, the Adams family was able to bring their dear son home with them to Utah.

LOVELY ADOPTIVE FAMILY

Gabe had been born with a rare condition called Hanhart syndrome, due to which he never developed any limbs. But instead of spending his entire life in an orphanage, he was lucky to find loving adoptive parents and siblings.

Because of his condition, he had to use a wheelchair, but his parents always pushed him to do things on his own.

Due to their motivation, he was able to do everything his other siblings could do by the time he turned 12, including walking, eating, and going up and down the stairs.

LIFE STRUGGLES

While he hated his parents for making him work hard as a child, he later revealed that their encouragement helped him become independent. But despite having a supportive family system, Gabe's life was still full of struggles.

He not only experienced physical difficulties but also had to battle short-term memory loss and survive the hate and negative comments he received from people. Having no limbs made him easy prey for bullies in school.

His self-worth was diminished to the point that he even attempted suicide seven years ago. While his attempt failed, he said he didn't know what he was capable of back then and has started to understand what he's worth with the passage of time.

PASSION FOR DANCING

A major turning point in his life was when he realized his love and passion for dancing. His brilliant dance performance in the sixth-grade talent competition earned him a standing ovation. Talking to UNILAD, Gabe further expressed:

"They [the people] only get to see me in a way I hope they see me and they want to see me. It’s been hard reminding myself of that so I don’t take things too personally."

Gabe identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns he/him. He's not only a mental health advocate and fantastic dancer but also a beauty and fashion influencer with a strong social media influence and 2 million followers on TikTok.

FINDING LOVE

He shared his first TikTok video in 2018 and regularly posts video and pictorial content on both TikTok and Instagram. Through his social media presence, he aims to voice his thoughts and feelings and become the voice for people like him.

After nearly a year of joining TikTok, Gabe crossed paths with his now-husband on Tinder and shared that they both connected on a level that he's never experienced before.

While netizens generally shower him with encouraging comments online, he says he's grown accustomed to receiving backlash and hatred. Gabe's life story is full of inspiration and determination, and he's a living example for numerous people.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org