By Development Staff | Development Coordinator
Nixon, a 25-year-old Veteran, nursing student, and Kidsave Alumni, reflects on his time with Kidsave. At the age of just nine years old, Nixon and his sister Angie escaped horrible abuse from their biological parents. As Nixon and Angie navigated hardship and separation in Colombian orphanages, they heard about Kidsave’s Summer Miracles program through other kids, and ultimately their participation gave them the opportunity to experience life beyond the orphanage walls.
Although his and his sister’s initial trip in 2008 did not lead to adoption, Nixon's perspective shifted during his time in the United States. "I was kind of in shock, like, ‘Oh, this is really happening for me and my sister’," he recalls, highlighting the significance of the experience.
“What we liked the most was that we weren’t sleeping in the same area with a bunch of other kids. We each had our own room, and we thought it was so cool.”
It was during Nixon and Angie's second visit to the US in 2010 that they encountered Michael and Patricia, whose unwavering support and advocacy would change the course of their lives forever. "If it wasn’t for Kidsave, Michael, and Patricia, I don’t think my sister and I would have been adopted," Nixon acknowledges.
With Michael and Patricia’s guidance, Nixon and Angie found a forever family with Tara and Scott, who opened their hearts and homes to the siblings. “We had three biological kids of our own, but we still had two empty seats in the minivan,” said Scott, laughing. "We went to a local ice cream shop, Debbie’s Soft Serve,” said Nixon. “We came in, and then they came in, but we didn’t know yet that they had three kids, so that was even better. I remember eating ice cream and just having a good time. After that, they invited us to their house, and we played pool and cards. It was fun.”
Just as they were getting to know each other, it was time for the siblings to return to Colombia. But that year, Kidsave organized an additional hosting trip over the winter holidays. Angie and Nixon returned to the US, and this time, Scott and Tara were their host family. They spent four weeks from December into early January with Tara, Scott, and their kids, enjoying their very first Christmas in America.
“It was over that Christmas break that we knew we were really, really set at that point on pursuing international adoption,” said Tara. From there, Tara and Scott moved forward with the adoption process. The process took around a year to complete, and then it was time to bring Angie and Nixon home.
“I remember talking to my sister on the phone because we were separated in Colombia, and we were both crying because we couldn’t believe it had finally happened; a family wanted the two of us, not just one of us,” said Nixon. “That was a huge moment for us because we’d entered the system in 2006, so we’d been in the orphanage for a long time. It was like a sigh of relief that finally it was our turn to start a new life.”
And that summer, they did start a new life with two loving parents and three brand new siblings in Maryland.
Looking forward, Angie and Nixon have become successful adults. Both Angie and Nixon followed in their father’s footsteps and served in the U.S. military, with Angie still actively serving along with her husband. Nixon retired from service and is now pursuing a career in the medical field. Tara and Scott couldn’t be prouder of the two. For Nixon, it’s a life he could have never dreamed of.
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By Kidsave Staff | Development Coordinator
By Rachel Cvitanovich | Development Coordinator
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