During a routine park patrol in Modesto, I found Kiara, a scared, exhausted 19-year-old homeless mother holding her newborn baby, Nia. She had just aged out of foster care and was struggling to survive. We got them into a shelter, but I couldn’t stop thinking about that tiny baby’s grip on my finger.
Over weeks, Kiara started trusting me, asking for parenting advice. Then one day, she confessed she wasn’t ready to be a mom but saw that Nia smiled when she saw me. She asked if I would adopt her.
Though overwhelmed and unsure, I agreed to explore it. The adoption process was tough—no birth certificate, CPS involvement, background checks, and two months without seeing Nia. Kiara worked hard to get back on her feet but eventually admitted she couldn’t provide what Nia needed and trusted me to give her a better life.
When the court finalized the adoption, I named her Nia Grace Duvall, honoring Kiara’s part in her story. Kiara still visits, and Nia is now four—full of laughter and love.
Becoming a dad wasn’t planned, but it became the best thing that ever happened to me.