It is customary on a highschooler’s graduation day that they receive presents, but in this video, the graduate is the one doing all the giving. In a heartwrenching moment, 18-year-old Lauren Hernandez surprises her stepdad of 17 years with a note that asks him to be her legal father and official adoption papers. His reaction is priceless and says more than words ever could.
Having been in Lauren’s life since she was 1-year-old, Joe Losco has been the father that Lauren never had. “Throughout the 17 years he has been in Lauren’s life, he has done all things that a father should do for their child,” Lauren’s mom, Sally, later wrote online, “so [she] decided to do something Joe never expected would ever happen.”
Lauren’s biological father is still in the picture, but she wants nothing to do with him, according to Sally. As far as father figures are concerned, Joe has been more of a dad to her than her “real” dad ever has been. Joe has taken her to pumpkin patches and made time for little things that mean a lot. He was there to raise her and be her confidant when her biological father wasn’t.
“Lauren has been wanting for years to be adopted by Joe,” Sally said. Unfortunately, her biological father made that an impossibility. Then, having turned 18, Lauren thought she had missed her opportunity. That is, until she and her mom learned about adult adoption.
“We started to look more into it, and Lauren wanted to do it,” Sally said. “We found a lawyer to draw up the papers, and she wanted to surprise him with it.”
And surprise him they did. When Joe reads the poem and sees those papers, he drops to his knees and starts to cry. At first, he just starts to read the gift:
Like his daughter and wife, Joe assumed that the opportunity to adopt Lauren was gone. But when he finds out it’s not, he is overwhelmed with emotion.
He is so overwhelmed with emotion that he breaks down in tears and nearly falls to the ground – you can tell how much it means to him that his step-daughter officially asked him to adopt her.
“I was overwhelmed with joy. That’s the only way I can really describe it. It’s something that I wanted that she was able to give me. It’s one of the best gifts anyone could have given me,” Joe said. “For the last 17 years, it’s been no different between me and my biological daughters. It’s just very gratifying. It also lets me know that she knows I love her and I’ve been there for her.”
Though Lauren has never questioned Joe’s love for her, she felt that presenting him with adoption papers was the only way to truly express her gratitude for all he has done for her over the years. “He’s done so much for me. I can’t even find a way to thank him for everything he’s done for me. He’s one of the best people who ever came into my life,” Lauren said.
Joe later told CBS 2 it was “one of the best things I’ve ever received in my life,” and stated: “I’ve wanted nothing more than to be her dad from day one.”
Even though it was just Lauren’s graduation, more than one person got the greatest gift of all that day. Lauren got a father, and Joe got a daughter. It is these kinds of heartwarming moments that restore our faith in humanity.
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