Boy Refuses to Get Adopted without Disabled Brother, Prays for a Family That Will Keep Them Both

A couple who set out with the intention of adopting a child ended up taking in two when their choice pick refused to leave with them unless his older brother, who had cerebral palsy, was adopted too.

Dawson and Dalton spent four years in foster care together before they finally met a family willing to take them both in. According to a caseworker, Dawson, who is three years younger than his brother, could have easily found a home but had chosen to remain with his sibling.

He was well aware of his brother's illness, and he had decided that any family who thought him good enough to adopt would not mind catering to his brother as well. However, Dawson was also aware that there was little he could do except stand firm as a child and pray.

So for many years, the boy offered up prayers to God, hoping that his brother would also get adopted. "No matter what, we protect each other and look after each other," said Dawson about his brother.

Robbin Brydges and her husband Steven were the answer to those prayers, and they found Dawson via Adopt America. It was love at first sight; the boy was cute with glasses and had a passion for legos and superheroes, so the couple decided they would see if the match would work out.

After making their intentions known, a caseworker contacted them and asked if they would be willing also to take in his older, nonverbal brother.

The brother, Dalton, not only had cerebral palsy but also epilepsy. It got Robbin nervous, but as they discussed the boy's unique needs, the Brydges decided that it was imperative to keep the two brothers together. The news excited Dawson, who said:

"I was so excited they were adopting Dalton and me so that we can stay together. I thought that was pretty awesome."

These days, more and more couples are looking at adoption as a first choice, and every year, many choose this method of becoming parents. More than 110,000 children were available for new homes within the U.S.

This leaves the authorities with the task of making sure these kids make it to beautiful homes, knowing that it takes a lot to be a parent. So in 2021, People asked parents who adopted to share their insights about the sensitive issue.

One parent warned against getting carried away by thinking that merely removing a child from the foster care system is all the favor they need and Robbin Brydges agreed. She said:

"People come into this with this altruistic impression that they're going to save a child; however, that's not all there is to it because giving these kids a new family does not totally replace the one they lost.

In her case, Robbin had to develop a creative process that would help her nonverbal child deal with how he felt about his biological family. She told People:

"We started a book that we wrote to each other and placed it under each other's pillow. He has asked me some big questions that I think he was nervous to ask aloud."

According to the proud mother, this helped relieve him, and she also made sure to take her time while replying to his questions because she knew they were flowing from his heart.