‘Sorry Mom, I Couldn’t Leave Him,’ 16-Year-Old Son Says Bringing Newborn Home – Story of the Day

Josh, a 16-year-old with divorced parents, longed for his family to reunite. Staring at an old picnic photo with his mom, Betty, and dad, Derek, he wished for happier times. Derek had moved on with Sylvia, his new girlfriend, whom Josh met reluctantly. Though Sylvia was kind, Josh resented her, hoping his parents would reconcile. Betty was furious when Josh mentioned Derek calling Sylvia his “new mommy.”

Weeks later, Sylvia called Josh, distraught—Derek abandoned her after learning she was pregnant. Alone and an immigrant, Sylvia had no one else. Josh tried to involve Betty, but she refused to help. Months later, Betty worried when Josh was late from school. He arrived with a newborn—Sylvia’s baby, his brother. Sylvia, hospitalized after childbirth, was in intensive care. Josh, her only contact, took the baby home.

Betty reluctantly agreed to care for the child temporarily, but Josh took on most responsibilities. Tragically, Sylvia died from organ failure. Fearing his brother would enter foster care, Josh begged Betty to become his guardian. Initially resistant, she softened, seeing Josh’s heartbreak. Betty became the guardian of the baby, named Andrew. He brought joy, mending their fractured family. At 18, Josh adopted Andrew, and with his fiancée, they built a loving home. When Derek later reached out, Betty dismissed him—Andrew already had a family.