An Orlando couple who lost friends in the Pulse tragedy now have a new reason to smile. Two boys who they have been fostering for years are now officially part of their family.
- Randy Lowe, Joshua Melendez foster parents for several years
- Couple learned they were legally parents just days after Pulse shooting
Randy Lowe and his husband Joshua Melendez have been foster parents for several years and always wanted to legally become adoptive parents, with the help of Children’s Home Society.
“It was such the day we had always dreamed that we might have a chance to be a part of but we never knew for sure until day until the judge made her ruling and officially adopted,” said Lowe.
Years of red tape in the adoption process was emotionally tough on the couple, but emotions got even higher when they learned they lost two friends in the Pulse nightclub shooting.
However, just days after the horrific event, the couple heard from a judge they would be the new legal parents of 6-year-old Jacob and 3-year old Robert. The couple had been fostering both boys since Robert was only 12 days old.
“’You’re their father, and that’s all that matters.’" said Lowe, describing that moment in front of the judge. "And she was looking us directly in the eyes as she was telling us this. The day I will never forget.”
On the day of the adoption, the boy’s case worker gave the new family a placard that reads “After 1,357 days in foster care Jacob and Robert Matthew were adopted, June 22nd, 2016.”
Randy and Joshua tell us they hope to make their family even bigger and hope to adopt and foster more children in the future.