This gаy boy took custody of a boy and raised him to be an Olуmpic champion
People told Jerry Windle, a single gay man, that he would never be a father. He never imagined becoming a father, but his life was turned upside down one day.
His parental journey appears to be a fairytale come to life, and it demonstrates that a merciful heart can overcome any obstacle.
We at Bright Side believe that parental love can do wonders and that it transcends all social prejudices and stereotypes. We’d love for you to learn about a single man with a big heart who raised an Olympic champion who was once an orphan.
1. It all began with a magazine article.
Jerry Windle, a single gay man, had wanted to be a father since he was a child. He struggled to adopt in the United States until he came across a magazine story about orphans in Cambodia.
He didn’t waste any time in contacting Cambodian officials, and he soon received life-changing news.
Jerry rushed to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in June 2000, where his future son, Jordan, had been living in an orphanage since his birth parents diеd.
The toddler had malnutrition, scabies, and severe infections. Jerry brought him home to Florida, nursed him back to health, and immediately adopted him as his son.
2. From the start, the new family faced numerous challenges.
The new family faced numerous challenges once they returned to the United States. Jordan was exhausted and weak, and he communicated with Jerry using sign language before learning English.
Jordan was two years old at the time, but he weighed only 16 pounds. His father didn’t know whether his son would live or die. But he promised to do everything he could to ensure that his new son would never have to suffer again.
There was already so much love that it had overcome all obstacles.
Jordan’s Olympic dreams began when he was seven years old. Tim O’Brien, the son of a famous diving coach, Ron O’Brien, noticed him at diving camp. Jordan then enrolled in a special diving program and began diving.
This is also when he met Olympic gold medalist and LGBT activist Greg Louganis. He was even referred to as «Little Louganis.»
Jordan qualified for the men’s platform event after three Olympic trials, the first at the age of 13 and the second at the age of 16.
4. The father and son have had the closest relationship over the years.
Jordan will compete for the United States in the Olympics today, but in his heart, he will also represent Cambodia. He recently had the Cambodian flag tattooed on his arm so that people could see it when he scuba dived.
In 2011, the father and son celebrated their story in a children’s book that they co-wrote. An Orphan No More: The True Story of a Boy is a book about a rooster who was told by other animals that he couldn’t be a father without a hen.
He comes across an egg that no one wants one day. What hatches is a duckling, but despite their dissimilar appearances, the two would demonstrate that «where there is love, there is family.»
What other instances of healing parents’ love do you know of or have in your family?
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