Putting up a child for adoption is one of the most heartwrenching decisions for a parent. Despite the great love parents feel for their children, sometimes circumstances make it so that it is in the child’s best interests to live with another family. The decision isn’t one of malice but pure love, even though it comes with so much pain as well.
Whether because of youth or limited financial means, being raised by another allows the child to have the best possible future. Although many adopted children never meet their biological family, occasionally it is possible for adopted children to form relationships with their biological parents. This generally depends on the type of adoption— an open adoption gives the biological parents a chance to remain in their child’s life in some ways, for example. Nowadays, the rise in genetic testing has also given many children answers to who their birth parents are. However, not all adoptions lead to contact between the birth parent and child.
An unlikely twist in fate sometimes leads to reunions that no one expects. Nathan Boos of Tilden, Wisconsin, who was adopted shortly after his birth found out that his work buddy was actually his biological father. Bob Degaro of Chippewa Falls had no idea that he had already met the son he had given up decades prior. This beautiful story from 2018 shows that reality can be stranger than fiction sometimes, and that wonderful events can happen when you least expect them! The two men are working towards forming a strong relationship today.
Nathan Boos of Wisconsin had a happy childhood when he was growing up. While Boos knew that he was adopted, he never asked his parents who his biological family was. “Growing up I always knew that I was adopted, it just never crossed my mind that I would ever find my parents,” Boos told WEAU News. However, Boos’ parents knew who the biological parents were but never disclosed it since he had never asked them.
Boos had no idea that he had actually already met his biological father! At the time, Boos was working as a truck driver and it was at the truck company, Rock Solid Transport in Chippewa Falls, that Nathan became friends with one of his coworkers, Robert Degaro. Nathan and Robert spent a lot of time together, eventually following one another on Facebook. It was from Facebook that Nathan’s mother made a startling discovery. She told her son that his father was also a truck driver and attempted to find him, and was surprised to see that the two were already friends “She just went on my Facebook and went through my friend list and brought up his picture and I said, ‘Get out of here,’” Boos said.
We can only imagine how shocking it must have been to know that his father was already a friend to him, both online and in real life! Wanting to confirm the news, Boos reached out to Degaro and asked him about his biological mother. For Degaro, this was going to be an incredible moment in his life.
“He messaged me on Facebook one day and asked me if I knew his biological mother and I’m like yeah, that’s my ex-wife … and I about fell out of my seat … I’m like, oh my God,” Degaro told WEAU News. Boos then came to know that his biological father and mother had two other children, which made them his biological siblings! Though the news outlet does not report upon whether the siblings and biological mother have formed a relationship with Boos, it is clear that the already existing friendship he had with Degaro has helped them to strengthen their relationship.
Speaking of the decision to give Boos up for adoption, Degaro said that financial matters ultimately led to the decision to give their son up so that he could have a better life. “Back then I wasn’t much of a dad. His biological mom had chosen the adoptive parents because they were somewhat related…distant cousins I believe but I didn’t know that,” Degaro said. While they continue to build on their bond, Boos says that they are taking it one day at a time, or as truck drivers say, one mile at a time.
“It’s still kind of a shock and there are days I’m not sure exactly what to say or how to act…I mean he is my son but we didn’t have that father-son relationship growing up and then we became working partners before we knew who we really were,” Degaro told the news outlet. It is a strange situation for both men, but it is clear that they want to remain in each others’ lives.
It may take some time to recalibrate the relationship to something more familial, but the two truck drivers have already taken the first steps! Boos was set to marry back in 2018, and Degaro was excited to be part of his son’s big day. Heartwarming stories like this show us the power of love and family, and that destiny sometimes leads us to beautiful paths that we may not have expected.
A similar story was reported back in 2017 when two brothers were able to meet after taking a DNA test. Kieron Graham knew that he was adopted, and was always curious about his birth family, so his adoptive parents gave him a DNA test as an early Christmas gift as per TODAY. His results showed him that his brother, Vincent Ghant, lived just 15 minutes away from him, and also attended the same university! Interestingly, both of the brothers were pursuing a political science major, so it is very likey that they had passed each other often without knowing they were related!
“It was amazing,” Graham recalled. “We just stared at each other and we both were crying … I knew my mom was in a tough position: She was a single mom and was working 12 to 15 hours a day as a nurse.” The two brothers also met their biological mom and learned that they have another brother, Christian. The three brothers continue to reconnect with each other and spend time together. “Every time we get together, we’re creating memories and strengthening that bond,” Ghant told TODAY.
