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Man Finds Out His Ex-girlfriend Wants to Put Their Daughter Up for Adoption - Flies Across the World to Stop It
Uplifting News

Man Finds Out His Ex-girlfriend Wants to Put Their Daughter Up for Adoption - Flies Across the World to Stop It

Becoming a parent is a huge responsibility and isn't for everyone. Knowing you're embarking on the parenthood journey solo is even more daunting. But despite the overwhelming challenges, single dad, Dan Gaut, wants nothing more than the chance to raise his little girl, Ana. And he's willing to do whatever it takes for the two of them to be together, including forsaking his life in Australia and flying halfway across the world in a frantic dash to stop his ex-girlfriend from putting her up for adoption.A Whirlwind RomanceWhen Australian, Dan Gaut, met Texan, Liv, in early 2023, it was love at first sight. They both happened to be on holiday in San Francisco at the same time and in a classic case of "right time, right place" it seemed as though the stars had aligned and fate had brought them together.Despite spending only a few days together, they both fell hard and fast. Liv made the radical decision to move from Austin, Texas to Australia to be with Dan."She was saying that there's nothing in Texas for me anymore...I've closed the door on it. All my heart and energy is in Australia," Dan told A Current Affair. And for a while, all was good. Really good. The two were inseparable. Liv even worked with Dan, a builder, on his job sites. Then came the news...Liv was pregnant. "It was joyous and beautiful," Dan said. The couple spent weeks planning their life together. However, as time passed, things began to unravel. Liv became more and more homesick. Eventually, she flew back to Austin, explaining she needed to surround herself with her "community" and "support network."And then came the phone call. The Phone Call That Changed EverythingLiv wasn't coming back. Not only wasn't she returning to Australia, but she and Dan were officially over. “I was actually leaving the job site as she’s telling me the news that she got back with her ex-partner,” Dan said. “I couldn’t believe it, what is happening? Like, you’re pregnant with my daughter.”As for that daughter? Liv told Dan she planned to give her up for adoption. She started sending him adoption options for people she knew in Texas, wanting to give her the absolute best life that she could.Dan was devastated."I said, 'No, stop, don't promise her to anyone, this is against all my morals.'"He immediately knew he had to stop her. But first, he had to get to the United States.Strapped for cash and knowing that jumping through bureaucratic hoops isn't cheap, he reached out to his community for help. He set up a Chuffed campaign (the Australian equivalent of GoFundMe) with a target of $30,000 — enough to cover his flights and the necessary paperwork to get Ana home. "I don't know how I will do this, but I do know that I will do everything I can to bring my daughter home and shower her with love and acceptance. Every child should know they are loved and wanted," he wrote on Chuffed.His community stepped up in a big way, raising over $34,000 to date. Single Dad Takes Life-Changing FlightLess than 24 hours after hearing that Liv was in labor, Dan boarded a flight to meet his daughter. Fifteen hours later, Ana was in her daddy's arms. And Dan plans on never letting her go. "It was so magical. It was like whatever apprehension or possibly awkwardness I might’ve been thinking about at that moment just dissolved," the new dad said of holding her for the first time. “The love for her just took over.""Really, from the first moment of meeting, it was like, 'OK, this is it, this feels right, this is perfect ... I'm so happy,'" he added.Their journey together has just begun. And it's not without challenges.In many jurisdictions, the rights of unwed fathers in adoption cases can be precarious, often requiring legal battles to establish parental rights. Add to that the complexity of living in an entirely different country, and Dan has his work cut out for him.Before he can bring her home to the land of Oz, he needs to file a ton of paperwork, including organizing migration papers, getting her a US passport, and obtaining an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) app - which allows non-citizens to travel to Australia for up to a year or the life of their passport.Thankfully, he has Liv's full support. She's even offered to help him on his return trip to Australia because she knows he's nervous about flying with a newborn. Embracing Fatherhood With Open ArmsAna is fortunate to have two loving parents — one who loves her enough to keep her and one who loves her enough to let her go, knowing that ultimately it's what's best for her.And isn't that what's at the heart of parenthood? Doing the best we can for our kids? Loving them so much that we would do absolutely anything, including flying to the ends of the earth, just to ensure their well-being and happiness? This story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and boundless love that define parenthood and the lengths a parent will go to for their child. More from Goalcast:9-Year-Old Girl Loses Her Mom – Years Later, She Pens a Message About Her Single DadPolice Officer Catches Single Dad Shoplifting for His Son – Decides on a Surprising “Punishment”Single Dad Delivers Pizza to Make Ends Meet – Then He Pulls Up to a Parking Lot to Find This

Real-Life Superhero: The Heartwarming Story of the Widowed Single Dad Who Fosters Terminally Ill Children
Motivation

Real-Life Superhero: The Heartwarming Story of the Widowed Single Dad Who Fosters Terminally Ill Children

“I know they are sick. I know they are going to die. I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God.”- MOHAME BZEEK, REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO Imagine the love and tenderness an ailing child requires during their last days of life. Mohamed Bzeek opens his heart and his home to some of the most gravely ill children in Los Angeles' foster care system and shows them the true meaning of unconditional love during their final days. Unconditional Love -- With Open ArmsMohamed moved to the United States from Libya and became an American citizen. He and his wife Dawn opened up their home to children in need and offered the little ones a place that they could truly call home during their final days of life. They took in terminally ill children that were in foster care and welcomed them into a loving environment. The Bzeeks fostered many children and took care of them alongside their own child — who was born with dwarfism and required delicate care. Tragedy struck when Dawn passed away from illness in 2015. In spite of his personal loss, Mohamed didn't give up on the children that so desperately needed care.He pushed through the pain of losing his wife and continued to dote upon the children in his care. He accepted new foster children that were terminally ill and remained dedicated to the youngsters that so desperately needed to feel loved during their most challenging days.Providing Care After His Own Personal Loss“In 1995, we decided to adopt orphans left at hospitals or taken from their families by the state because of violence and pressure,” Mohamed said, according to the LA Times. He spoke of the responsibility that he embraced as part of his daily life.“The only house that accepts orphans and children who are about to die in Los Angeles is my house," he said. " I have dealt with 80 children since 1989. Ten children lost their lives in my arms.”RELATED: Formerly Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Spending Their First Half Year in the HospitalMohamed is licensed to provide medically vulnerable children with care when their own families aren't able to provide for them and works closely with The Los Angeles Department of Child Services. “They tell me when children are about to die and ask if I can adopt them. They know that I do not hesitate to accept," said the real-life hero."If I don’t, they are sent to hospitals and don’t have a family or house," he said. Creating A Loving Home Mohamed reflected on the magnitude of this care, and how deeply the children benefit from his loving environment. "However, when I take them, they feel a family atmosphere. They feel safe and are loved until the end of their lives," he said.The county's Department of Children and Family Services intake coordinator, Melissa Testerman, praised Mohamed for his dedication and he unfaltering love he showed for the children in his care. “He’s the only one that would take a child who would possibly not make it," she said. “If anyone ever calls us and says, ‘This kid needs to go home on hospice,’ there’s only one name we think of,” Melissa noted.Mohamed cared for a 6-year-old girl that was blind, deaf, and paralyzed as a result of a rare brain condition. She required round-the-clock care. "I know she can’t hear, can’t see, but I always talk to her. She has feelings. She has a soul. She’s a human being," he said.Loving And Living Through Heartbreak Mohamed admits that his role is a challenging one, but in spite of the personal sacrifice, and the tremendous emotional toll it takes on him, the real-life hero perseveres for the sake of the children.“I know it’s heartbreak. I know it’s a lot of work and I know it’s going to hurt me sometimes," he said."You know, I feel sad. But, in my opinion, we should help each other, you know?”Mohamed shared a few words of wisdom as he summarized his unique role."The key is, you have to love them like your own. I know they are sick. I know they are going to die. I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God.”