Single Man Adopts 13-Year-Old Boy After His Adoptive Parents Abandoned Him In A Hospital
Peter Mutabazi has had a difficult life. He grew up in a small village on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. Peter’s family couldn’t afford food so they grew their own beans, peas, and sweet potatoes. He began helping his mom in the garden at just 4 years old. The family didn’t even have clean water, so the kids had to walk 2-3 hours to fetch some for the family. Poverty was all they knew.
But that wasn’t all. Peter’s dad abused the whole family. Both verbally and physically. The man would beat his wife, deny his children food, and as time went by, the abuse got only worse.
One night, when Peter was 10, his father sent him to get cigarettes. On his way back, it was pouring rain and the cigarettes got destroyed. Peter knew that if he returned home, he would have gotten a severe beating. Terrified to come back, he ran away instead.
Peter had to go through a lot of trials and tribulations to create a better future for himself. But he persevered. He finally settled down in Oklahoma to start a real estate business. And since his house had two empty bedrooms, his mind couldn’t be at peace knowing there were kids that needed a place. So he went to a foster agency and devoted his life to serving children.
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Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
“In the USA, you have to take parenting classes and be licensed by the state you live in if you want to be a foster parent,” Peter explained the process to Bored Panda. “All foster children belong to the state. Since I was licensed under a private agency, they would approach when they needed a home for kids. I have had 12 kids in the last 3 years, ranging from 2-11 yrs. Since I’m single, I could only handle 2 at a time.”
However, Peter eventually met a boy whose story was too painful even for the man who had seen it all.
One night Peter received a call from his social worker asking, “Can you take in an 11-year-old boy just for the weekend?” It was just a few days after he had said goodbye to two brothers he was fostering, so he told her that his heart was deeply saddened by the loss of the two boys that had just been reunited with their birth parents. Peter thought he didn’t have enough energy left to care for another child at the moment. But the back-and-forth with the social worker continued, and she convinced him to take in the child.
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
In the beginning, Peter didn’t want to know why Anthony was in foster care. The man couldn’t handle any more tugging at the heartstrings. He made up his mind that if the placement exceeded the weekend, he would simply refuse to allow him to stay any longer out of fear they would get really close and, once again, only to return to the loss and grief.
The social worker arrived at his home with the boy at 3:00 a.m. after driving two hours from another county within the state. There is a huge shortage of foster families in Oklahoma so when a child enters the foster care system, social workers are often forced to place the children outside of the county of origin, often removing the child from the only place he or she has ever known. Add in the fact that older children are much more difficult to place and the social worker was left with no other option.
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Peter told Anthony he could call him ‘Mr. Peter’ but just 20 minutes after his arrival, he asked if he could call the man ‘Dad.’
Fast forward to Monday morning. The social worker arrived and Peter decided to ask why Anthony was in foster care. Turns out, the boy had been abandoned by his biological mother when he was 2. He was then placed with a family that served as elders in their church. Eventually, they adopted him but almost ten years later, the same family that raised him, abandoned him at the hospital and never came back. Peter was shocked, asking the universe, “Who would do that?”
But then he learned that the family also relinquished their parental rights, meaning Anthony had nowhere to go. Peter knew he had to take him in.
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
The two have been together ever since. And on the 12th of November, Anthony finally got to share Peter’s last name. His adoption was made official in a Charlotte courthouse and photographer Cole Trotter captured the precious moment.
“I have not had any difficulty with the adoption,” Peter said. “[It] took longer but I knew he would be my son … Nobody wanted him and it’s really hard to find homes or families that would take an 11-year-old boy.”
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
“I am truly blessed to have him, I feel like I have needed him or that he changed my life more than I have changed his,” Peter said.
However, he didn’t stop fostering kids.”It’s hard to be a single foster dad but it’s worth every minute of it. We are about to have another child and we are thrilled.”
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Image credits: fosterdadflipper
Here’s what people said about Peter and Anthony’s story
244Kviews
Share on FacebookThese two were meant to find each other. What a kind and generous man Peter is. It must have been tough for Anthony, having being abandoned twice but now he has the father he deserves and Peter has a son to love unconditionally!
Its so nice to see something like that in times like these. Every kid deserves a loving home!
How could the people who raised him for 9 years just leave him? How is this legal? How is it possible? How could anyone's heart be so cold?
I really want to know *why*. Medical bills too high? God told them to? Idiots!
Load More Replies...This happened to me too. I was put up for adoption when I was born. I was adopted when I was 1 years old. I was in put up for adoption, by my adoptive parents when I was 8 years old. I was raised in foster home until I was 18. I wish I had found an angel like this gentleman. I wish them both all the happiness in the world.
That must have been so painful. Who abandons an 8 year old? I wish good things for you.
Load More Replies...As a mother of 11-year-old boy I cannot understand how on Earth someone can leave a child in a hospital. My son was in a hospital last year, had an emergency surgery, and we were at the hospital day and night. He was so sad, in pain, lonely and I can only imagine how child could feel in hospital abandoned. Luckily, his tragedies make him meet his true father, the one who will love him and stand by him. I was abandoned by my biological parents when I was 3 and half, but my foster parents (granny and uncle by mother side) took me in and loved me, protected me. I was in a hospital for two months when arround 6 and they came every single day to visit me from another town although they didn't have car. Good luck, boy. Hope you will have your own kids one day and be a dad like the one you found when you needed him most.
Your granny and uncle is who you should have been with all along. They sound like amazing people. I hate that you had to be in the hospital for two months. My dad was in the hospital for forty one days and my sister and mother were by his side the whole time. When you care about your family, you go through anything for them.
Load More Replies...Sad thing is, there are a million Anthonys out there and only a few adults willing to take in an older child. Bless them both. Consider being a Big Brother/Sister or CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for a child.
I call bs on that. I have been trying to adopt out of foster care for over 2 years. But, because I'm single and refuse to be a foster parent first it is next to impossible for them to pick me to adopt. I just can't do foster care. I can't love a kid and have my heart repeatedly broken when they leave. And because of that and because I'm not a 2 parent household with a stay at home mom, I am the bottom of the barrel. I've actually been told these are the reasons. I am a good person, good house, good job, and fantastic with kids and kids with trauma background. But, I'm single and I won't foster and that apparently makes me unworthy.
Load More Replies...Looks like things turned out the way they are supposed to be. Happy for them both.
Te other family adopted him from 2 until 10 and then abandoned him again?!?!?! I'm sorry but I have to say this ; WHAT DA FUKE IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE.
Beautiful family. Sadly, another example of how too many people who hide behind religion are truly evil. Who could give up their child adopted or by birth? Off topic, Anthony has very long fingers. Get him on a piano!
I wish we knew more about his past, how could a family who raises a child from 2 years old to 11 just leave him, what happened??? they had to know the child would not find another family easily, he had a wonderful lucky happy ending but in most cases abandoning a 11 year old child would result in destroying his life. Who would do that? why?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of pathetic, selfish people.
Load More Replies...Peter you are the best wish everything keeps going well for you both. Both of you are special to each other all my love
God bless Peter for his generosity and loving heart. Anthony deserved better than he was given, and he found that in Peter. Surely, they were meant to be a family together. May you share many years and create many memories.
Bless this wonderful man. So glad that Anthony now has a loving family.
I am 100% crying. I can't imagine how hard it was for Anthony, but he definitely found his real home with Peter.
Hollywood needs to call up Idris Elba and Gaten Matarozzo and have this made into a movie immediately! Best story I've read in a very long time
I am appalled and disgusted that it was church people who abandoned Anthony. Things happen for a reason though - he got adopted by Peter.
*claps and cries* This. Restored. My. Faith that not everyone on this planet is trash. Just most people. *sobs*
A sad story with a very happy ending. Peter sounds lovely and the fact that Anthony felt that he had come home immediately speaks for itself. The courtroom photograph is joyous.
This is such a wonderful, happy ending to a previously sad tale. When I watch the news and want to give up hope for humanity, this man comes along and restores at least some of my belief. May nothing but good things happen to/for him and his son in the future.
You two look incredibly perfect next to each other, you're a BEAUTIFUL family. Even though I live on the other side of the planet I just couldn't feel more proud of you both, thank you for existing on the planet. Thank you for being so mind-blowingly beautiful... I love you both 💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Elders of a church abandon their adopted son at a hospital. I hope I never go to their church!
That “elder of the church” thing.....sounds like the parents who abandoned him are Mormons.
Load More Replies...My brother is adopted. My dog is adopted. I love these stories they make my heart burst!
This is so bizarre. How does a two year old not find adoptive parents for two years? Why would people who clearly wanted to adopt abandon their elven year old child, who seems to be a really nice kid? I think it's awesome that one of those hated immigrants creates such a happy ending but I really wish there was more background-info somewhere.
Yeah I guarantee there are very pertinent facts we aren't privy to here.
Load More Replies...I really want to know why on earth the adoptive parents would abandon him. I can't even wrap my head around this. Although better than the alternative we always see in the news.... it's still heart breaking. Peter is amazing!! Good man.
This proves that families can come in all sorts of forms and that they can find each other in many different ways.
I try to speak for those who have no voice, having been abused on every level by both parents for first 10 years of life. Then abandoned by foster mother. I'm so glad to read of 2 amazing guys walking that same road and bringing hope to more children and by allowing their story to be shared hope to mant they'll never see or know. So glad you find each other. Peter deserved the chance to be a forever Dad and Anthony to be a forever Son. Both birth (and adopted) families lost out big time when they lost the chance to have you both in their lives. So many others are blessed by their loss. Greetings from England
Why only foster parents have to take parenting classes? Why aren't abusive "dads" or "moms" sterilized and their children taken away from them at the first incident of a serious, severe abuse? (and I emphasize the words "serious' and "severe"). Why do the authorities wait till a child is dead? Sadly, there are too many people who should never be allowed to reproduce.
This is a wonderful story. This man came from abuse and was able to make a life for himself and now he is going to help this child who got abandoned for no good reason.
Since a watched this i have such a bad imoression of the usa foster and adoptuon system.: https://youtu.be/-dtJ3evZgQ8 Luckely this boy found a real family now ❣️
I must have missed an entire section of the article where it mentioned LGBT and Catholicism. Oh, wait- I didn't. Appreciate the story for what it is- a positive one that made a family. Colour is irrelevant.
Load More Replies...These two were meant to find each other. What a kind and generous man Peter is. It must have been tough for Anthony, having being abandoned twice but now he has the father he deserves and Peter has a son to love unconditionally!
Its so nice to see something like that in times like these. Every kid deserves a loving home!
How could the people who raised him for 9 years just leave him? How is this legal? How is it possible? How could anyone's heart be so cold?
I really want to know *why*. Medical bills too high? God told them to? Idiots!
Load More Replies...This happened to me too. I was put up for adoption when I was born. I was adopted when I was 1 years old. I was in put up for adoption, by my adoptive parents when I was 8 years old. I was raised in foster home until I was 18. I wish I had found an angel like this gentleman. I wish them both all the happiness in the world.
That must have been so painful. Who abandons an 8 year old? I wish good things for you.
Load More Replies...As a mother of 11-year-old boy I cannot understand how on Earth someone can leave a child in a hospital. My son was in a hospital last year, had an emergency surgery, and we were at the hospital day and night. He was so sad, in pain, lonely and I can only imagine how child could feel in hospital abandoned. Luckily, his tragedies make him meet his true father, the one who will love him and stand by him. I was abandoned by my biological parents when I was 3 and half, but my foster parents (granny and uncle by mother side) took me in and loved me, protected me. I was in a hospital for two months when arround 6 and they came every single day to visit me from another town although they didn't have car. Good luck, boy. Hope you will have your own kids one day and be a dad like the one you found when you needed him most.
Your granny and uncle is who you should have been with all along. They sound like amazing people. I hate that you had to be in the hospital for two months. My dad was in the hospital for forty one days and my sister and mother were by his side the whole time. When you care about your family, you go through anything for them.
Load More Replies...Sad thing is, there are a million Anthonys out there and only a few adults willing to take in an older child. Bless them both. Consider being a Big Brother/Sister or CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for a child.
I call bs on that. I have been trying to adopt out of foster care for over 2 years. But, because I'm single and refuse to be a foster parent first it is next to impossible for them to pick me to adopt. I just can't do foster care. I can't love a kid and have my heart repeatedly broken when they leave. And because of that and because I'm not a 2 parent household with a stay at home mom, I am the bottom of the barrel. I've actually been told these are the reasons. I am a good person, good house, good job, and fantastic with kids and kids with trauma background. But, I'm single and I won't foster and that apparently makes me unworthy.
Load More Replies...Looks like things turned out the way they are supposed to be. Happy for them both.
Te other family adopted him from 2 until 10 and then abandoned him again?!?!?! I'm sorry but I have to say this ; WHAT DA FUKE IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE.
Beautiful family. Sadly, another example of how too many people who hide behind religion are truly evil. Who could give up their child adopted or by birth? Off topic, Anthony has very long fingers. Get him on a piano!
I wish we knew more about his past, how could a family who raises a child from 2 years old to 11 just leave him, what happened??? they had to know the child would not find another family easily, he had a wonderful lucky happy ending but in most cases abandoning a 11 year old child would result in destroying his life. Who would do that? why?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of pathetic, selfish people.
Load More Replies...Peter you are the best wish everything keeps going well for you both. Both of you are special to each other all my love
God bless Peter for his generosity and loving heart. Anthony deserved better than he was given, and he found that in Peter. Surely, they were meant to be a family together. May you share many years and create many memories.
Bless this wonderful man. So glad that Anthony now has a loving family.
I am 100% crying. I can't imagine how hard it was for Anthony, but he definitely found his real home with Peter.
Hollywood needs to call up Idris Elba and Gaten Matarozzo and have this made into a movie immediately! Best story I've read in a very long time
I am appalled and disgusted that it was church people who abandoned Anthony. Things happen for a reason though - he got adopted by Peter.
*claps and cries* This. Restored. My. Faith that not everyone on this planet is trash. Just most people. *sobs*
A sad story with a very happy ending. Peter sounds lovely and the fact that Anthony felt that he had come home immediately speaks for itself. The courtroom photograph is joyous.
This is such a wonderful, happy ending to a previously sad tale. When I watch the news and want to give up hope for humanity, this man comes along and restores at least some of my belief. May nothing but good things happen to/for him and his son in the future.
You two look incredibly perfect next to each other, you're a BEAUTIFUL family. Even though I live on the other side of the planet I just couldn't feel more proud of you both, thank you for existing on the planet. Thank you for being so mind-blowingly beautiful... I love you both 💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Elders of a church abandon their adopted son at a hospital. I hope I never go to their church!
That “elder of the church” thing.....sounds like the parents who abandoned him are Mormons.
Load More Replies...My brother is adopted. My dog is adopted. I love these stories they make my heart burst!
This is so bizarre. How does a two year old not find adoptive parents for two years? Why would people who clearly wanted to adopt abandon their elven year old child, who seems to be a really nice kid? I think it's awesome that one of those hated immigrants creates such a happy ending but I really wish there was more background-info somewhere.
Yeah I guarantee there are very pertinent facts we aren't privy to here.
Load More Replies...I really want to know why on earth the adoptive parents would abandon him. I can't even wrap my head around this. Although better than the alternative we always see in the news.... it's still heart breaking. Peter is amazing!! Good man.
This proves that families can come in all sorts of forms and that they can find each other in many different ways.
I try to speak for those who have no voice, having been abused on every level by both parents for first 10 years of life. Then abandoned by foster mother. I'm so glad to read of 2 amazing guys walking that same road and bringing hope to more children and by allowing their story to be shared hope to mant they'll never see or know. So glad you find each other. Peter deserved the chance to be a forever Dad and Anthony to be a forever Son. Both birth (and adopted) families lost out big time when they lost the chance to have you both in their lives. So many others are blessed by their loss. Greetings from England
Why only foster parents have to take parenting classes? Why aren't abusive "dads" or "moms" sterilized and their children taken away from them at the first incident of a serious, severe abuse? (and I emphasize the words "serious' and "severe"). Why do the authorities wait till a child is dead? Sadly, there are too many people who should never be allowed to reproduce.
This is a wonderful story. This man came from abuse and was able to make a life for himself and now he is going to help this child who got abandoned for no good reason.
Since a watched this i have such a bad imoression of the usa foster and adoptuon system.: https://youtu.be/-dtJ3evZgQ8 Luckely this boy found a real family now ❣️
I must have missed an entire section of the article where it mentioned LGBT and Catholicism. Oh, wait- I didn't. Appreciate the story for what it is- a positive one that made a family. Colour is irrelevant.
Load More Replies...
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