Blaine Hamilton, a Texas-native, posted a picture on social media of her little cousin Coleman and his progression out of addiction.
Coleman was born in 2015 with an opioid addiction, as his parents were addicted to drugs. The youngster has been living with his cousins for 15 months, and has made a tremendous recovery.
The recent images show him looking healthy and happy.
Coleman had to endure surgery for pyloric stenosis after he was born. This a condition that impacts the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause a baby to projectile vomit.
"He was...malnourished and exposed to harmful drugs," Blaine's mother, Kaysi, told BuzzFeed News. "He was taken by care flight to a children's hospital at eight weeks old."
born w/ drug addicts as parents, neglected & weighing below birth wt @ 2 months old..then my family took him n & look @ him now #FinallyOurs pic.twitter.com/sj8t9hYctT
— Blaine Hamilton (@Valerie_Blaine) July 21, 2017
The Child Protective Services eventually intervened, and his maternal cousins volunteered to raise him.
"My parents were like, 'We’ll take him. We’ll go to the hospital'," Blaine said.
"He was my brother's son, so knowing that he is with his biological family and that he will grow up with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., is comforting and rewarding to us," Blaine’s mum Kaysi said.
The Hamiltons had one week to baby-proof the house, purchase baby items, and organise babysitters when everyone was at work and school.
As Coleman adjusted to his new family life, his health began to gradually improve.
My family took my bro in at 2 weeks from drug addict parents who didn't want him. 8 years old today & he is the smartest/most handsome kid. pic.twitter.com/QPj1HOn22P
— travis jones (@travispjones) July 22, 2017
The Hamiltons were officially given full custody of Coleman last Thursday. After hearing the news, big cousin Blaine was so delighted that she shared photos of Coleman’s journey through recovery, online.
People worldwide were so moved by Coleman’s story that they shared their own personal stories of adoption and recovery.
“My family took my brother in at two weeks from drug addict parents who didn't want him. Eight years old today, and he is the smartest/most handsome kid,” posted one person, on Twitter.
“I adopted these three beautiful girls 10 years ago. All three born with foetal alcohol syndrome, and the youngest born cocaine-positive. Look at them now!” tweeted another.
This woman shared the stunning progress of her baby cousin once born into drug addiction https://t.co/sge3nbd7BC pic.twitter.com/uBu1nHFKO7
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) July 27, 2017
The Hamiltons were overwhelmed by the positive online reaction and are clearly grateful to have little Coleman in their lives.
“We all became different people because of each other. We all grew. Coleman grew healthier, and we grew, emotionally and mentally," said Blaine.
Coleman’s adoption process will be finalised within one month, and he will be an official member of the Hamilton homestead.
