Each year in the United States, more than 23,000 children age out of the foster system.
That is to say, they reach the “adult” age of 18 and suddenly find themselves without the same kind of support they grew up with. It’s no wonder, then, that 20% of the kids who were in foster care are suddenly homeless when they age out.
Sadly, an 18-year-old boy named Seth Miller found himself in that exact situation. However, he had a very happy ending in store.
Growing Up With a Dream
Seth grew up in the foster care system. According to USA Today, he had been put up for adoption as a toddler. During his childhood, he suffered through a hurtful failed adoption and then spent the next 10 years in and out of unhappy foster homes.
The one thing that got him through was his dream of finding a forever family. But as the clock ticked down until his 18th birthday, that dream seemed less and less likely.
When Seth turned 18, he officially aged out of the system and became homeless. He had a car to use as shelter, but he was sad, angry, and hurt that he had never found a family of his own.
“Everything around me was pretty much empty,” he told the publication.
But then, one day, things changed. Someone from an ABC news affiliate in Dallas ran Seth’s story, and unbeknownst to him, someone very important saw it.
An Unexpected Family Appears
That fateful day the news story ran, the couple who had adopted Seth’s biological sister, Shyann, happened to see it. They reached out to their local reps and got in touch with Seth’s court-appointed special advocate.
Robert and Ava Hunt were hesitant at first, but eventually, they decided to reach out to Seth and let go of their fears.
“When we let go of the fears, we found forever,” Ara said.
They scheduled a meeting, and Shyann got to meet her brother. It was an emotional reunion and seemed meant to be.
Sure, there was a transition period, and the family had some growing pains, but eventually, Ara and Robert knew that Seth was where he was meant to be. They asked him to move in and officially join their family.
A Dream Finally Comes True
Seth was so happy about the way things worked out that he decided his fresh start was worthy of a new name: Logan Hunt. In an emotional adoption video shared by USA Today, Robert explained to a judge this was the way things were supposed to be.
“From the first time I saw the interview, I knew he was a part of our family,” he said. “We’re just doing this to make it legal. He’s our son.”
Finally, after all of those years of wishing and hoping that his life would turn around, it did — and just in time. “It feels awesome,” Logan added. “Like I’m at peace.”
It’s Never Too Late
If you ever needed a story to prove that it’s never too late to find your dream or to remind you never to give up hope, this story is it.
It’s sad to imagine how hard things must have been for this young boy growing up, not to mention the hardships he probably faced. But he kept the faith and hope alive, and in the end, things worked out exactly as they were meant to.
It can be hard to remind yourself that things work out in the end, especially when life gets rough. Everyone goes through dark periods, and sometimes the light at the end of that tunnel feels really far away.
In times like these, it’s important to express your feelings and cultivate optimism, perhaps by practicing gratitude or doing a random act of kindness.
The important thing to remember is that tomorrow is a new day. And while the storm may last a while, even the darkest clouds eventually break for some rays of sunshine.
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