In October 2013, a teenager named Davion stood up in a Florida church and made a confession to the congregation.
"My name is Davion and I’ve been in foster care since I was born. I know God hasn’t given up on me, so I’m not giving up, either."
The 16-year-old's plea to be adopted went viral in 2013. As a result, his foster agency received calls from more than 10,000 people and placed Davion with a minister’s family. But sadly, the minister and his wife changed their minds after Davion got into a physical fight with one of his older would-be siblings. He was sent back to Florida and spent the next year bouncing around foster homes.
Davion was heartbroken, but not defeated. That's where Connie Going comes in.
Davion knew his case worker, Connie Going, for nearly 10 years. Every year, he would ask Connie if she would adopt him, but she always hesitated. Connie always believed there was a better family for him out there.
But then, one day, Davion asked her one more time — and this time, she had a different answer…
Davion Only spent his entire life in foster care. His mother gave birth to him while she was in prison, and she died in jail. He lived in over 20 foster homes.
Connie Going was Davion's caseworker since he was 7 years old. She placed him in a family once, but Davion was "returned" after getting into a fight with his new sibling.
Every year, Davion would ask Connie if she would adopt him. But Connie — who had three kids of her own — always believed deep-down in her heart that there was a better family for him out there.
In 2013, 16-year-old Davion captured hearts all over the world when he made a public plea for a family. "I know God hasn’t given up on me, so I’m not giving up, either," he announced to the congregation in a Florida church.
Davion's speech went viral, and thousands of adoption offers flooded in. But Davion called the one person he actually trusted — Connie. One last time, Davion asked if she would adopt him.
This time, Connie said yes. "When he asked me, my heart felt this ache and I just knew he was my son." On April 22, 2015, Connie officially adopted Davion as her son.
"I don't think when you find a family and it's real, I don't think you can put it to words," Davion told CBS.
Davion now has two sisters. And his brother, Taylor, was also adopted by Connie. Davion and Taylor are not just brothers, they're also best friends.
Connie was hailed a hometown hero, but she was only doing what was in her heart. "I want every child to know that there's somebody who doesn't give up on them."
For 10 years, Connie knew Davion's forever family was somewhere out there — but she didn't realize his home was always with her.
I'm so glad Davion found his forever home, and with the one person he trusted most in this world. Please SHARE this story with your friends on Facebook!
