Adopted at 23 Years of Age

Like many foster children who "age out" of the system, 23-year-old John had given up hope of ever being adopted. Then he met Mark Hauck and his partner, Tim Ferraro, who became his friends ... and later, parents:

The soda shot out of John's nose when Mark asked the question. He thought that maybe he hadn't heard Mark correctly.

"We'd like you to be our son," Mark offered. "We'll leave it up to you to decide."

But John didn't have an answer. He asked for a few days to think about his decision. At first, John grew angry when he thought about their offer to adopt him.

"I don't think I was used to the level of commitment they were offering," John said. "An adoption can't end."

The permanency Mark and Tim promised was a striking contrast from his past. When John stirred trouble, the state moved him to another foster home. When he acted violently, the state punished him by sending him to residential treatment.

Several days later, John appeared at Mark and Tim's door with his belongings. John decided he was tired of spending Christmas and birthdays alone. He realized, even as an adult, that he still needed parents to provide him advice -- and compassion. He wanted a family of his own.

Link (Photo: Kevin Davis)


I don't have the link to the story anymore, but a couple years ago, the first adoption to a gay couple in Israel was a guy that they took in when he was disowned at age 15 or 16 for being gay himself. They were recognized as his foster parents fairly soon after they took him in, but I don't think the adoption case was successful until their son was 30 or so?
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Will someone adopt my 24 year old brother? I mean, we have parents, but still.

About the homophobe comment. The "gay couple adopting" aspect isn't the weird part, it's the "gay couple adopting a grown @$$ man" that pushes it into the "strange" category.
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What is so gross and disturbing about it? It's touching story about people able to define their own meaning of family. Sure there are hidden meanings in lots of relationships...nothing in article suggests that is the case here. Apparently the "troll be gone" message wasn't particularly affective this time.
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I read the incredible story, then got fearful when I saw that there were comments at the end of the article.
I was amazed that every comment was exceedingly positive and complimented the couple on their courageous decision. Too bad Neatorama’s commenter’s couldn’t be as open minded.
To those that are uncomfortable with the idea of a gay couple adopting an adult male, how would this story be any different if it was a straight couple adopting an adult male or female? They do not think of their adult children (adopted or not) in a sexual manner. Well, unless you’re Woody Allen I guess…
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"The soda shot out of John’s nose when Mark asked the question. He thought that maybe he hadn’t heard Mark correctly."

Just hearing that sentence is painful nostalgia for me.
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lol, homophobes. It's kinda funny how mad some people will get when someone else finds happiness of a different flavor.

Honestly now, they're not demons. There is nothing sinister about wanting an older son; at least adults are mostly past that annoying teenager state where all they do is scream at you.
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What a beautiful story and wonderful couple! They understand what it really means to be good parents - being there during difficult times and creating a stable sense of family and support. Not just going the easy route and adopting a baby that you can mold from scratch.
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One of the most hidden difficulties of the foster care system is the fact that kids just "age out." I'm so glad that my family was still there for me after I turned 18. I can't imagine how scary it must be knowing that there is absolutely no one out there who will help you when you really need it. Adults need parents too. That's why it is so wrenching when they die. What these men have done is so ridiculously selfless. They saw someone struggling and reached out to help in the most fundamental way. I wish every foster kid was this lucky.
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Not gross at all. It's a testament to commitment, and at 23 having supporters/guardians around is not a bad idea. At 23 I was still at university, NOT from a foster home but from a bad alcoholic one and could have benefitted by a couple prepared to make a committment to me.
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Actually, i think a gay couple adopting a kid is completely normal. I strongly approve of that AND of gay marriage by the way. But grown people adopting grown-ups? I find that very odd.
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Actually, i think a gay couple adopting a kid is completely wrong. I strongly disapprove of that AND of gay marriage by the way. And grown people adopting grown-ups? I find that very odd.
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Check your Roman History boys and girls. A declining Roman ruler would quite often adopt a 'son' well past the age of twenty.

Why is there a need to judge others? Let them live their lives as they wish.
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Actually, if you work with young people who have spent most of their lives in "the system" you discover that many of them experience significant delays in development. They are all over the map due to trauma and constant disruption of their growing up years. Ironically, these kids are expected to be adults at 18 when they are often functioning as young adolescents in many areas of their lives. Adoption also provides legal kinship--parents, grandparents, other siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins. This is significant in terms of both medical emergencies and inheritance rights. There are many good reasons for a young adult to be legally adopted by a family if they have none of their own.
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