A video (below) of an adopted tween’s emotional reaction to celebrating his first birthday in America has gone viral. A few weeks ago, Abraham Walker, celebrated his birthday with his adopted family in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was the first birthday he’s had since being adopted last fall and the first time in the 6th grader’s life that he’d ever gotten a birthday cake. The moment, caught on a now viral video, was so joyous that he was brought to tears.
Abraham and his older brother James grew up in an orphanage in the west African country of Sierra Leone. Their adopted father, Joe Walker, first met the boys while visiting their orphanage a few years ago. Joe formed a close bond with the boys and after a lengthy and difficult process, delayed by the pandemic, the boys were finally adopted by the Walkers and joined the couple’s four biological children last fall.
The touching video has been viewed over 3-million times and garnered hundreds of comments. Many commenters say the moment is a reminder to not take for granted life’s simple pleasures. Abraham’s reaction of pure appreciation and love for something as common as having your family sing “Happy Birthday” shows us how lucky we all are.
