Remember The Boy Who Weighed 3 Kg At 7 Years Old? This Is What Happened To Him After Adoption

At just 7 years old, this boy weighed a mere 6kg and, despite doctors predicting he wouldn’t survive for long, a compassionate couple chose to adopt him. What followed was nothing short of miraculous.

After marrying her husband, David, Amor built a loving family with him, raising three wonderful children: two biological sons and a Russian daughter they had adopted. Their adopted daughter was born with a heart condition and Down syndrome, but the couple poured their hearts into ensuring she received the medical care she needed. Over time, she grew healthier and thrived in their care.

Just when Amor and David thought they had created their picture-perfect family, something unexpected happened. In June 2014, while scrolling through her Facebook feed at their home in Nashville, Amor stumbled upon a photo that stopped her in her tracks. It was a post from an adoption organization featuring a six-year-old boy in Bulgaria. The child looked painfully frail and malnourished, his little frame evidence of his dire circumstances. The caption warned he likely didn’t have much time left.

Amor couldn’t stop the vivid image from replaying in her mind, as if it were etched there permanently. “I don’t know how to describe it,” she would later confess, her voice tinged with emotion. “But there’s something in their eyes—you just know.”

The connection she felt was instant and profound, an invisible thread pulling her toward him. Yet she couldn’t reconcile how someone so young could bear such profound suffering. The weight of his condition, his silence, his fragility—it all struck a chord deep within her. Determined to understand the boy’s journey, she began piecing together the fragments of his life.

What she uncovered left her shaken. He had spent most of his childhood shuttling between hospital wards, battling relentless health challenges. Not a single person had come forward to adopt him, to give him the love and stability every child deserves.

In that moment, as the enormity of his story unfolded before her, Amor felt a resolve she had never known. She couldn’t just walk away—she had to do something. She knew her family was his only chance to escape the orphanage, but she wasn’t sure how to bring it up to David.

Years earlier, they had agreed that if they adopted again, it would be from places where children were least likely to be chosen—countries often overlooked in the adoption process. “We had decided that if we were going to adopt again, it would be kids no one was coming for, children from third-world countries,” Amor explained.

Unsure of how to start the conversation, she simply showed David the boy’s photo. What happened next left her speechless. Instead of hesitation, David was deeply moved by the child’s story. He immediately agreed they should welcome him into their home. “We have the means to take care of him,” David said. “So why wouldn’t we?”

By September 2014, the couple had begun the adoption process, setting out on a journey that would change all of their lives forever. In late 2015, the couple began planning to adopt a young boy they would later name Ryan. Determined to bring him home to their family in the US, they did everything required, including traveling to Bulgaria to meet him.

At that time, the frail boy was 7 years old and weighed only 6kg. When the couple arrived at the orphanage, they were shocked by the number of children needing care. Yet when Amor saw Ryan, she couldn’t believe how tiny he was—barely alive. She later admitted that the moment she first laid eyes on him was terrifying.

“When the nurses brought him out, I thought they must have made a mistake,” she said. She couldn’t fathom the condition he was in.

The couple explained that Ryan was barely being fed at the orphanage. He had even developed a habit of regurgitating food to mimic eating, as he doubted there would be enough to go around. The poor child, whose body was covered in fine hair from malnutrition, had learned to do this just to survive.

Fortunately, over time, the couple bonded with Ryan and grew accustomed to his presence. By the second or third visit, they were already rocking him and tickling him. Despite being so small, he wasn’t as fragile as they had initially thought.

After completing the adoption process, they successfully brought him to the US. Upon landing, they wasted no time taking him to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, where a team of doctors and specialists was waiting.

According to the couple, the medical team was moved to tears upon seeing Ryan. They couldn’t understand why the couple had chosen to adopt him, believing his chances of survival were incredibly slim. “I’ve never seen doctors look at a child and just break down crying,” Amor recalled.

Some even contacted social services, warning, “We’re sorry, but he’s not going to make it.”

Yet despite Ryan’s severe health challenges, his adoptive parents refused to give up on him. With the help of the medical team, Ryan was fitted with a feeding tube, which provided the nutrients he desperately needed.

Over the next 13 months, Ryan grew stronger and gained about 15kg—yes, you read that right. His progress amazed the medical staff, who began addressing his other health issues. They repaired his feet through surgery and treated his scoliosis by inserting a spinal rod.

Each day, Ryan showed remarkable improvement. His speech and communication skills began to develop, and he gradually learned to use his hands and feet more effectively.

In time, the brave boy continued to thrive, and his parents even enrolled him in school. Ryan’s journey began in third grade when he started attending a public school. This was a significant milestone for a boy who had faced so many hurdles early in life.

His path was anything but easy, as his recovery would require time, patience, and relentless effort. Yet his team of doctors and therapists remained optimistic, convinced that with the right support, Ryan could achieve remarkable progress.

What happened next, however, exceeded even their highest expectations. Ryan didn’t just improve—he flourished. By May 2020, he had reached a milestone that felt almost miraculous. On his 12th birthday, he celebrated with his loving foster parents, surrounded by joy and warmth.

The moment was captured in a series of photos shared on Facebook with the caption: “Say Big Baby Ryan.” The pictures told a story of transformation that words could barely capture.

The once-fragile boy was now vibrant and full of life, his bright smile a testament to the resilience and love that had carried him through.

“It’s amazing to see how far he’s come,” Ryan’s adoptive mother began, her voice filled with warmth and pride.

She recounted how Ryan, once burdened by the stigma of his special needs, had seamlessly become part of their family. He had flourished in ways no one had anticipated, forming deep bonds with his siblings and embracing the love and security that had always been his due.

Her eyes softened as she spoke of her hopes for others. “Too often, people hesitate when it comes to adopting children with unique challenges. Fear takes over—the fear of the unknown, the fear of not being enough. But these kids, like Ryan, are more than their struggles. They’re incredibly resilient and so deserving of a chance to be loved and accepted. They deserve to belong.”

She paused, her words carrying the weight of her conviction. “I hope Ryan’s journey opens people’s hearts and minds. It’s not just about giving a child a home—it’s about transforming a life, and often your own in the process.”

Ryan’s story didn’t just change his life—it changed his family’s as well. After adopting him, his parents welcomed another special-needs child, a girl named Gigi from Ukraine, and later had a biological child.

Thanks to the unwavering love and dedication of his adoptive parents, Ryan got the chance to live as every child should—happy and full of hope.

What do you think of Ryan’s incredible journey? Let me know in the comments. Stay safe, and see you next time!