When a child graduates from school, it’s customary for the parents to celebrate their child’s accomplishment, however, when one Illinois teen came together with family for her graduation party, she stunned her mom’s longtime boyfriend with a gift of his own.
For 17 years, Joe Iosco has been the father figure in Lauren Hernandez’s life and has raised her as his own from the first day he stepped into the picture when she was just a tiny, year-old baby. To thank him for everything he’s done for her and loving her like his own daughter, Lauren decided to surprise him with a gift during her graduation party.
In the middle of the party, Lauren and her mom had everyone gather around so she could give her mom’s stunned boyfriend a present. Joe, who had no idea what was waiting inside, was confused at first, but then found a framed poem.
After finishing reading the poem, he was urged to keep looking, and at the bottom of the box were adoption papers that would legally make him Lauren’s dad. “I never doubted that he was my dad. The fact that it’s going to be official makes me happy,” Lauren said. “He’s been there for everything for me.”
“I’ve wanted nothing more than to be her dad from Day One,” said Joe who was raised in a separated family. And after raising Lauren as his daughter, Joe said her gift is “one of the best things I’ve ever received in my life.”
“When your kids are born, you automatically love them,” Lauren’s mom Sally Hernandez said. “He chose to do for her what he does for his biological daughters.”
Watch the entire video below to see Joe’s emotional reaction to finally being able to adopt Lauren, and please SHARE this incredible moment with friends on Facebook.
[Featured image: Youtube/CBS Chicago]
Touching Moment Girl Asks Mom’s Boyfriend To Adopt Her is an article from: LifeDaily