For 12-year-old Andrew Gill, the road to belonging was long, uncertain, and often heartbreaking. But after years in the foster care system and feeling like the world had forgotten him, something extraordinary happened — he found a home, a family, and a brother who would change everything.

Andrew was just 6 years old when he was removed from his biological home. His parents’ rights were terminated, and he was placed in state custody. While his four siblings were adopted relatively quickly, Andrew remained in the foster system, passed from one temporary placement to another.

The early years left their mark. He became quiet, withdrawn, and wary of new faces. Many families overlooked him, fearing the challenges noted in his file. But then came Dominique and Kevin Gill — a Nashville couple who weren’t looking to adopt but simply wanted to help.

The Day Everything Changed

Two years ago, the Gills opened their home to Andrew with the intention of fostering. Dominique, 27, remembers those early days vividly.

“When Andrew first came to us, he was very withdrawn,” she told TODAY Parents. “He spent his first week sitting alone in his room, looking at old pictures, and not talking.”

It was a heartbreaking sight. Dominique and Kevin tried to reach out gently, giving him space while letting him know he was safe. But it wasn’t until Dominique’s biological son, Joc, extended a simple invitation that something shifted.

Joc asked Andrew if he wanted to play video games. And to everyone’s surprise, Andrew said yes.

“That was the moment everything started to change,” Dominique recalled. “Since then, they’ve become best friends. Now, they’re brothers.”

From Foster to Forever

The Gills had never intended to adopt. They began fostering to give kids a safe, loving place to stay during uncertain times. Dominique herself grew up in a home that fostered children, and she wanted to pay it forward.

But sometimes, plans evolve. Andrew’s first attempt at adoption with another family fell through, and the heartbreak was visible. That’s when Dominique knew—this boy was meant to stay.

“We thought we’d help him until he found a permanent home,” she explained. “But when the second adoption fell through, I knew Andrew was meant to be ours. God had a plan.”

In May, after two years of building trust and love, Dominique and Kevin sat down with Andrew and asked the question that would change his life: “Would you like to be part of our family forever?”

Andrew’s answer was emotional and immediate. In July 2020, the adoption was finalized. He was officially a Gill.

The Bond Between Brothers

Perhaps the most beautiful part of Andrew’s story isn’t just that he was adopted — it’s how he bonded with Joc. Despite not sharing DNA, the two boys became inseparable. They even decided they wanted to share a bedroom.

“They’ll stay up late talking,” Dominique said. “They joke, play games, tell stories. They act like brothers because they are.”

Andrew, still processing all he’s been through, often expresses his gratitude in small, powerful ways.

“He would always say, ‘Thank you for accepting me,’ ‘Thank you for not giving up on me,’” Dominique shared. “People would read his file and get scared, but I knew he was a good kid who’d been through a lot.”

A Reminder of Hope

In a world where many foster children age out of the system without finding permanent homes, Andrew’s story is a reminder that healing is possible — and that sometimes, it only takes one person, one family, one moment to change a life forever.

The Gill family didn’t set out to adopt. They just wanted to help. But in helping Andrew, they found something greater than they ever expected: a son they didn’t know they needed and a love that had been waiting to be found.

And for Andrew, after all the heartbreak and uncertainty, he finally has what every child deserves — a forever family.