Teen hands over a special letter to her mum's boyfriend who also raised her—he collapses in tears when he reads it
Acceptance from loved ones is a very beautiful gift one can get. A man, Joe Iosco, got that when his long-term girlfriend's daughter, Lauren Hernandez, who he had known since she was a baby, asked him to adopt her during her graduation party. Iosco was touched beyond belief and could not hold back his tears as he unwrapped the present given by the girl. The daughter shared that he had been like her dad for the longest time, per CBS News.
Hernandez gave Iosco a gift to unwrap during her party and asked him to become her dad legally. She invited friends and family to her home to celebrate her graduation and revealed a special surprise after everyone had gathered. She gave him his present as friends and family cheered for them. Iosco had been with Hernandez's mom, Sally, for 17 years at that time. People were really excited when they saw a framed letter and asked him to "read it out loud." He refused to do that and read it by himself instead. It turned out to be a poem Hernandez had written for him. Iosco was really emotional as he read through the poem and took some time to process everything. Meanwhile, the party had gone quiet to give him the chance to read it properly.
Once he was done reading it, he gave the girl a big hug as someone from the crowd whistled and clapped. "You did it, baby," a person screamed, per CBS Chicago. They were both in tears by the time he bent down to see what else was in the box and found adoption papers hidden beneath the wrapping. When Iosco saw them, he could no longer control himself. He sat down on his knees and cried his heart out, with his head in his hands. The mom and daughter teared up too when they saw his reaction. Hernandez hugged him once again.
People present there clapped and cheered for the family's big milestone. Hernandez shared that Iosco was the person who made her feel completely loved, and that's why she wanted him to adopt her. He was also the person who made her feel wanted. "I never doubted that he was my dad. The fact that it's going to be official makes me happy," she expressed. "He's been there for everything for me." Sally echoed the sentiment. "When your kids are born, you automatically love them. He chose to do for her what he does for his biological daughters," she revealed.
On the other hand, Iosco also loved being a father to Hernandez. He had known her since she was only a year old. "I've wanted nothing more than to be her dad from Day One." He added, "Growing up, I came from a separated family. I always had it in my mind that I would never want other kids to go through that." He even called the adoption papers "one of the best things I've ever received in my life." Truly wholesome!