How a single mom adopted a troubled teen boy and inspired her community

In honor of Mother's Day, "GMA" surprised Lesley Hemphill with breakfast in bed and highlights the work that she is doing for her community.

[@jenniferlutz4499]

I got adopted on my 18th birthday, after a whole life of being in system and group homes I was amazed. I never thought I would be loved

[@gracewanjiru8904]

Happy for you. God always has a better plan for us

[@mcry2024]

That’s absolutely amazing!! Everyone deserves a home to be loved in.🥰🙏🏼🥰

[@annadavis6361]

You are loved!!!!!🙏🏽

[@dannygrift2264]

Sorry you had to go trough all that!

[@jenniferlutz4499]

@@dannygrift2264 it is life, doesn't always go as planned. but i do believe no child should have to grow up in the system. Its a horrible place to be.

[@fercho3689]

Must be nice !! I remember when I was 15 years old and not being able to be adopted because I was a teenager and my chances to have a family were extremely low, but I remember my caseworker, she always gave me hope; However, It was hard for me to witness how the other foster children were chosen by lovely families and I clearly remember how happy those children's faces looked like being all excited to be moving into a new home. It was extremely depressing for me, I was just sad to the point that I did not want to see any couples to interview me because it hurts talking about me over and over. -It was just a mix of feelings, to be excited thinking that they might follow up with the adoption process. back then, I knew in my heart that I am an unwanted child since my own parents did not care for me; I wasn't a troubled kid, I was just lost, I remember sitting by my bed every night just wishing for a miracle to be able to find a home, a place where I can feel loved, cared, wanted and safe, however that never happen. I am an adult now and one day I will adopt a teenager because I know how it feels being the last one to be chosen or looked at. Congrats to this lady for being so brave and amazing.

[@Aanita75]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@imperfect13]

You should work in foster care home-finding department where you can train or give a seminar about adopting teen to foster parents A lot of foster parents come in with a mind set teen are already mold, can’t change them, trouble kids who doesn’t want to be adopted. Also, Court/foster care society thinks teens doesn’t want to be adopted so they end up with the APPLA goal.

[@fercho3689]

nazerah08 I actually gave an speech about it for one of my clases that I took on college where i talked about how teenagers suffer and struggle the most when they are sent to foster care, and how they moved them from home to home.... I try to get involved 100% because like I said I’ve been through all that, and it’s hard and I seen some of my ex friends let’s call them that, not being able to have a home and feel welcome into society, because we weren’t accept by other families.

[@tghost7721]

eliott A , you're awesome!!

[@imperfect13]

eliott A I am sorry to hear that... The system is so broken and society is so ignorant in area of foster care. It’s sad. I am happy for you, you were able to make to college. Sadly, a lot of teen in foster care don’t make it past H.S. I hope you continue to stay strong & succeed to where you want to be ❤️ what are you studying or studied in college?

[@Ziffelzoovop]

I've wanted to adopt teens ever since I was 11 and it dawned on me that I could eventually do that once I was an adult. My whole purpose for working right now is to get a stable income and a home so that I can finally fulfill that dream. I'm so happy to see that someone else has been able to do what I wish to do.

[@Hortonheardahoe]

Alexandra T Dixon I wish you all the luck in your journey!!!

[@jattdaputt7196]

if would have that much money, i would have given it to you right now 🙂 i ll do this too. dream for couple of years.

[@Mia-ki3jx]

thats amazing! ❤

[@bloodmajesty414]

We are in the same boat, I don't like children or babies in general, but I have a soft spot for orphaned kids, especially the older ones because they have less chance to get adopted - that's bullshit, and while I may not be a warm and loving adoptive parent, I can at least give my future adoptive children financial stability and home security.

[@chanellovely2836]

God Bless you!

[@justicewillprevail1106]

Teenagers really need love ...I wish when I was a teenager, someone had adopted me.

[@KoriEmerson]

It breaks my heart so much. As soon as we have the room, we want to adopt a teen or 2. We know it will be hard. But we want to try.

[@aaru7835]

@@KoriEmerson please adopt me I am 17 year old 😭😭😭I need love and care

[@Matt00740]

She looks so young my god not just amazing woman and mother

[@cassidysellers8840]

I wad adopted at 17.. I love,love, love this

[@aquamarine0023]

Happy to hear of your adoption! All the best to you ♥️

[@rexrunner]

Bless!! It truly is amazing

[@ginacool2161]

So if i adopt a 17 year old he will be ok with that? Hes in foster care now.

[@ginacool2161]

@@josephspeck4583 thank you so much because i really dont want to creep him out. I tend to be real "mom like". Its just my heart. Somehow I feel a kids need.

[@grayskindablue]

Gina Cool Absolutely. My ex was adopted at 16 by an amazing single dad and it was the best thing that could’ve ever happened, especially considering how foster care had gone. As I’m sure you already know, just prepare yourself that 17 means 17 years of baggage and most likely abuse in the system, it might not be easy- but every kid deserves a home and a family, and for someone to just try for them. And hell, every 17 year old boy needs their mama. Don’t listen to anyone that says otherwise. I’m in my 20s and shamelessly still need my mama sometimes, just makes us human.

[@lavaunjohns7796]

I've taken in 3 troubled teens in my life and I have a saying, "Although my children turned my world upside down, I learned living in an upside down world is just a different perspective on life and I wouldn't trade it for anything." Sometimes I think one of the reasons I was so successful was because the ONLY reason they were with me was that I loved them...we weren't related and I wasn't receiving any financial gain, I just wanted them to have a chance at a normal life. Knowing this really gives a teen incentive to make you proud. All of them have. This woman is proof of that.

[@aquamarine0023]

Wow, what a beautiful comment and you're a beautiful person! I'm thinking about one day adopting

[@lavaunjohns7796]

@@aquamarine0023 It's extremely rewarding. Loving a child that isn't your flesh and blood is no different. I remember the first time my youngest got in trouble for doing something wrong and then lying about it. After time in her room to think about her actions every day for 3 days until she told the truth (I already knew the truth but I wanted her to come clean), I went to talk to her and she wanted to know when she would have to leave because everyone else who had taken her in had sent her away when she did something wrong. I told her this was her home forever but that she was going to wish I sent her away once I was done punishing her. She was restricted for the mistake and twice as long for the lie. All priveledges she had like the computer etc were taken away. She learned real quick that privileges were earned and that lying was worse than the truth. She's now in her 30's with her own children.

[@juancabrera1607]

That was a long saying

[@grayskindablue]

LaVaun Johns It’s heartbreaking you told a kid who thought she was gonna be sent back to foster care for a dumb thing all kids do that you were gonna punish her to such an extent she was gonna wish she’d be sent away. That’s an “extremely rewarding” story?

[@elizaworrall2691]

I want to adopt a teenager with siblings or something. Everone needs love so as many as I can get!

[@dachadoodle7146]

What about teens who don’t have siblings?

[@smithsanath5822]

I am from India. Would you like to adopt a Indian teenager ([phone])

[@aaru7835]

Please adopt me

[@aaru7835]

@@smithsanath5822 please adopt me

[@sanath1875]

​@@aaru7835hey how old are you

[@tysonmadding8559]

So many crappy comments ........who cares how old she is ....who cares the numbers of her address was shown ..who cares if there was a camera man already inside ....she stepped up and took in a teenage boy who was abandoned by his family and overlooked by everyone else ...that's the story not the negative crap everyone want to point out or focus on ...she gave love to someone who needed it

[@yuwonder80]

You Damn Right! Its not her fault someone thought well enough of her to spread the word.

[@wickedlove229]

I was adopted at 16. This woman is truly amazing!

[@ginacool2161]

Wow there are a lot of teen adoptees on these comments. How was it for you?

[@auburwright4175]

I love my mother I love my dad love my brother my sister. They took me in when I was very very young 13 years old and I've been with him ever since. Go for adoption I love you mom always and forever your baby boy

[@aquamarine0023]

Amazing story, so happy to hear this ❤️

[@monkeybearmax]

Love this ❤️

[@torib100]

I thought her 15 year old daughter answered the door on accident or something 😂

[@MARiAN-gv1dj]

Animation Meme That's what I thought too 😂😂 I was like" that's the mom who the boy !!!!??? " she looks quite young

[@user-bd2kd3ml1j]

Animation Meme sameeeee

[@gofranmustafa5572]

Omg me too .. she's so young 😂

[@gofranmustafa5572]

@LaToya Jones we all thought so .. it's true she looks so young

[@Fierclyfabulous]

Y’all lying she look old 😂

[@skatingcanuck9837]

Thank you GMA for showing that Mom's and families come in all shapes and sizes. It is easy to get a baby adopted, but for Lesley to take a chance on teenage boy and give him a family show's she's a real life super hero!

[@taiwoal]

Adopting a young person is such a wonderful service to humanity.

[@Meme-ts4zz]

People who adopt are hero’s

[@joannajesse26]

Nice story... but I thought they were going to give her something

[@spicechick4954]

Exactly,me too

[@ceceparis9793]

joanna gallegos They did surprise her kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIGmc62HjN6Wmrc

[@vittra83]

Thanks! Was just about to ask "what happend with the breakfast in bed?" ;-)

[@merzbaujr]

she got a son

[@joannajesse26]

@@merzbaujr true

[@soeifong]

She saved his life. I'm so happy everything worked out in the end. May God bless them.

[@karenv525]

Thank you Lord for answering this special young man's prayer and blessing him with a wonderful mother, so great, I'm so happy for both of them.

[@erinj295]

I use to work at a homeless shelter for teens for 2yrs. I miss my babies every day. We had a family and I'll never ever forget them.

[@juancarlosdelgado970]

Good mothers rock! I am immensely grateful for mine! Greetings to all the wonderful mothers n God bless them!

[@tgxjmvvfgjjg1433]

Shes AGELESS! 😍

[@SH-vf2ck]

I love how thankful and kind he is about his mom. So precious.

[@chandadevi235]

Everyone deserves the love ❤️ and respect ❤️

[@clairedy6]

Wow I cannot believe how sweet, courageous and generous this girl is!! This is truly a beautiful story and even more amazing that it has inspired others to adopt older children. Lesley you are an amazing person and a true inspiration to me and so many other people including your son!! I hope that one day I am half the person that you are!! 💖💖💖

[@aceofmomsyea4502]

I was a single young mom of an autistic child who fought to adopt my teenage son (now grown) too! 💘

[@graceh843]

God bless you Leslie on being such a good example and a good christian woman you have a very happy mama's day weekend

[@traceyyeoman8391]

Wonderful story through one act many more follow, the gift of love is so precious, incredible woman.

[@davidlove1445]

I’m happy for them

[@NB-ky5ol]

She is so deserving of that. She’s truly is breaking the mold.

[@foreverelizabeth6028]

Such a remarkable story of strength and compassion single mom adopting a child

[@misstati-tatianna1627]

Awww this is beautiful I have a 13 yr old boy and those teen age years are important it’s where they learn about themselves and to learn your alone is the worse feeling god bless you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mariaschwartz447]

Why would anyone give a thumbs down ? She is an angel

[@Maxy_9090]

Definitely a emotional video..what a great mom, he has a family , it touched my heart when he said if theres a god send me someone who cares within a week, then on the 7th day he met his mom❤😥🙂😀🙌🦋

[@tonyamedsker497]

Beautiful outcome Best of everything in their lives. Had me in tears!! God Bless

[@bshays21]

He's a handsome young man. Hope him and his family the best.

[@mintberryXoXo]

"Hi I love your shirt" 2:27 ...this is the most American thing I have ever heard lol

[@dachadoodle7146]

How?

[@amittriumph8991]

she just looks so genuine caring and a wonderful human being God bless her always

[@ItzJustMia]

As a girl with special needs myself, I can totally feel how this story changed the hearts of a lot of people. It warms my heart knowing people such as this amazing lady would go above and beyond to help a child, especially a teenager, in need of a loving home. I remember watching this story and I was literally in tears that this young boy got a second chance at life and found his forever home. Kudos to this lady for her amazing action! ❤️

[@LexFerraro]

Is no one going to talk about how chill she was getting mic’d

[@mikeyb3556]

Beautiful. Nobody beats a Mom!

[@phantom_angel]

I'm not gonna cry...😢😢 nope ain't gonna😢....craaappppp😭😭😭 it's happy tears though so..😭😭😭💗💗💗💗

[@connieh2999]

Meeee tooo!

[@scottreitz864]

I cried through this whole video you are amazing and what you did is amazing

[@anniebell6846]

Oh boy who cares how old she is what a kind human

[@shanthageorge8254]

I love you, son. You have a great heart. She brought out everthing good in you.

[@2115virgo13]

What an amazing heart this young woman has.

[@mrsheatherteske]

Ree Drummond, Thank you also for honoring this awesome adoptee mom

[@TheKnittingAstronaut]

Lesley is a special one for sure. Thank you for stepping up and to all others who decide to adopt.

[@libbymills4432]

God is so Faithful!! Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

[@joelpayne1193]

God bless that lady who adopted her son who need family 👪 🙂

[@carriebizz]

Omg what an Angel. Thats absolutely amazing that she could adopt him. A beautiful family

[@richardhutchison3123]

So sweet and such perseverance as a hope for our nation's children! Go Leslie...way to go!

[@caroleboots7591]

How beautiful, the world needs more love 🇱🇷🇨🇦❤️

[@mistywoo5383]

You're the best mom in the world ❤

[@zayneb9264]

kind and loving people age gracefully

[@Megan-19]

Oh my gosh what a wonderful person and story!!!

[@michelem7986]

Praise the Lord for matching these two up: new Mom and beloved son. This venture is rare, and it would be so wonderful if many, many more teens were mentored, embraced, and adopted. 💕🏘🙏 You can see that the love and admiration is mutual, and I love that Dakota even got his very own pup, and a Grandma that's on-board. Lots of love & bonding in that home and family.

[@shoneseyoung4861]

Just totally Awesome ❤God bless you. He has given the Grace and the opportunity for you to change a young man’s life. A jewel 💎 in your Crown Sister ❤

[@Nirr100]

Beautiful. I love watching those kind of videos. It shows that it’s still so many good people in the world..

[@kathiepadilla4450]

The Power Of Prayer 🦋

[@Reunion4ever]

Dakota found his angel

[@mauriceharriott2569]

Beautiful story beautiful family ... Congrats on a selfless act!

[@lupitaalvarado8573]

Shalom love this story I was from the system too. Am 38 years old with 3 amazing kids.

[@Jackiemw22]

One act of love opens the doors for so many more. She was obedient to what God was putting on her heart and look at what came from it !!! 😭❤️💙

[@preciselyme4775]

If im ever in a position to adopt a child in need i would in a heartbeat!

[@moneybag5569]

I mean there are about a millions kids waiting on being adopted lol

[@preciselyme4775]

@@moneybag5569 u may not have fully read my comment..i said if I'm ever in a position to. Which I'm not. I'm a single mother of 1 with 1 on the way. I've got enough on my plate already right now.

[@moneybag5569]

Precisely Me i respect that. i’ll pray for you to have peace and hope in life! God bless. i hope you can change a life one day and have an amazing story to tell.

[@preciselyme4775]

@@moneybag5569 aww thank you so much! God bless u too!

[@jessarose2288]

@@preciselyme4775 exactly. I was actually surprised they let a single woman adopt this kid...if he were younger they damn sure wouldn't have. My mom's best friend whom i call my aunt, she took in a foster baby who was four months old...he was born addicted to crack cocaine, had fetal alcohol syndrome, the works. Somehow they still sent him home with his mother whom neglected him so badly that he wouldn't even cry when he was hungry anymore (the medical term is actually "failure to thrive" and it is devastating to see, babies realize their cries aren't getting them results and they decide not to waste the energy anymore) when CPS finally removed him from his birth mother's custody. It was the fifth child of that mother that they'removed. I still remember the day I walked up the stairs to my aunt's flat, and opened the door to see this little teeny tiny baby in her arms, and I could see by the love in her eyes even then being only 15 years old myself that she was now a mother, and that giving birth truly did have little to do with what motherhood really is. Plain and simple. His bio mom never fought for any rights to see him or visit or attempts at making reau8tements to eventually have custody returned to her. And this is not something I say with spite. This woman has a very low IQ and has had full on dependency on drugs and alcohol since age 10. It might be easy for others to vilify her and make HER the enemy but I dont...and neither does my aunt. In fact, she never even came close to changing that boys name even though it may be the complete OPPOSITE of what shed have named him. I admire that so much. Like she said, "How could I say I LOVED him and then take away from him the only thing hisbirtht mother ever gave him that he still has?" Anyway, she had to fight LIKE HELL for years to get thaadoption. She is a single woman of color. They put her through absolute hell even though she has a masters degree in chemistry and has held a job with very very good UNION pay as a chemist for the city's waste water treatment plant for over a decade. Watching what she had to go through just toontain her adoption made me lose so much faith in the system. Even the boys bio mother had no problem with herbecomig his permanent guardian. And listen I hate to say this but the truth is that even though this boy was a small baby trust me MOST people wouldn't havbeen clamoring or lining up to take on a baby with severe fetal alcohohsyndrome born crack depende tfrom a low iq mother...yet the state STILL put her through hell. Now he is 13. So the story does have a "happy" ending but my aunt never should have had to go through the years of bullshit she did nor the tens of thousands in legal fees

[@bleuskye8124]

This lady is at least 38 . That would make her old enough to be a mother to a teenager.

[@glenndagilbert303]

What an angel all the best to them both

[@RedFooVana]

What an amazing woman! This is so beautiful, I want to do this too.

[@sashikirankoppolu5033]

Human Angels do exist. Leslie is one such Angel.

[@Rivenmoxie]

Oh damn right shes changed the world :) broken teens still are just broken children deep inside... Cute video thanks for being in my feed.

[@pohbeyau9320]

A beautiful young man saved by an angelic woman

[@justinwright1614]

This touched my heart strings! What a hero, and a light in the midst of darkness

[@rashondaandrews5643]

Thats the Texas cook that makes good food from the food network channel. Thats so awesome that she is giving thanks to that single mom :)

[@juliaweber5026]

I’m a step mom and three of my children were neglected by their birth mother due to her mental illness herself and so hard times rested upon my husband being a caregiver and husband he had his twin sons and his daughter and two of his boys had disabilities since birth and one started having grandma serges two times a day on top of his ex wife mental illness and he told me how when he went back to church with his kids by himself it was hard but he became stronger and prayed a lot. I found out he prayed for a woman like me. Divorce was the hardest choice he had to make but he knew he needed to save his kids for remaining in foster care. My husband is a hero to his kids and I always try to remind his kids how brave he is. I remember when my family heard me tell them I was going to marry Jesse and my siblings didn’t support me because he had three kids. I knew he was the one because I dreamed about him six months before we met I never saw his face but it took a while for me to know it was him and my family wasn’t supportive but his family loved me and his dad. I just knew I supposed to be their mother I just never been a mom before ever so it was new for all of us I learned a lot from my kids and I found many talents I wouldn’t have without them and most importantly Jesse my husband has given me the world we are best friends and are parenting together better. Being a step parent isn’t easy but I was supposed to be their mama because I was prayer answered for my husband and he was for me. I wish I could adopt my boys but their mother would never consent and she’s still lyes and manipulates and has mental illness the sadness part of the whole thing we are waiting for her to call Jesse to want to see her kids and it’s now been six years and she hasn’t even tried to want to have any relationship or call to talk to them. I always tried to leave my cell phone on her answering machine with my husbands phone and if our phone changed I called because I wanted her to given those chances to connect with her kids it’s so sad that she’s waiting until there 18 to talk to them when her boys wanted to connect to her at age 8 i think it’s hard not adopting a child if your step because you don’t have the same rights. It’s been difficult because I and Jesse were the only ones parenting the hardest part is dealing with trauma and not knowing what happened to them and our kids don’t talk about it so it was one step at a time. I still remember the boys were not potty trained even with disabilities my husband worked a lot and he found out along with his ex wife have mental illness she over dosed on nighttime tynoll cray right so my husband ex wife kept secrets from him and losing his kids he was willing fight. I still remember how horrible the foster parents were to Jesse and they were told lies we were living together and he wasn’t divorced it was horrible he cried many times after leaving the parking lot after he dropped off his kids. I remember crying myself to sleep many times because being step mom was hard and with disabilities harder and trauma and my husband had to learn to be parenting together which was very hard for a while and we dealt with emotional things our kids struggled with. My kids help me grow into the woman I am and my husband and I are closer and stronger then before. I hope and pray for our kids to find their best friend like their daddy and I. And I hope they will one day know how lucky they were to have their daddy and I together.

[@bladegriggs4090]

How are y'all doing now?

[@reyesv6189]

She is an angel!! I can feel that!!

[@tenngirl4trump]

Who would ever thumbs down this story? What a beautiful story.... Congratulations Dakota on finding a wonderful mother. God listens.... here is the proof!

[@JimWalsh-rl5dj]

Teenage boys and girls have so much love to give. The system here in the UK is ruthless, they are deemed to be adults at 16 and required to leave care and find their own way. It is very sad

[@arifali6762]

God bless your family.

[@joevillareal191]

Wow She looks like She's only old enough to be an older sister... Very Mature & Beautiful inside & out. Dakota Happy for U having a Home filled with Love. Make You're Mom Proud. GOD SPEED

[@nancymertens9739]

Congratulations to Leslie & Dakota🇺🇸⚓️🇺🇸💟🙏. From Nancy , NYS

[@lakotachicoine4089]

I was lucky me my 2 other sister where all adopted together at a young age love my mom and thankful she keep us together

[@aaru7835]

Please adopt me 😭😭😭😭

[@libbylife7161]

Sweet story! God bless them both!

[@nayashams6845]

God bless her ,she is an angel.

[@Fultonfalcons86]

All any child desires is to be loved and to have a family this proves it ..........

[@patriciaperry-higgins6269]

May God continue to Bless your little family ❤

[@duvine3882]

Thanks, it gives me hope one day I can be a parent with my husband & a mother to a kid or even teen while in my mid forties.

[@diysy9431]

Wow so beautiful inside n out 👏🏽

[@agoroyagoroy517]

She's amazing mom!..

[@willm5814]

Wow, so amazing, brings tears to your eyes ❤!!

[@user-cx7nh8sb1i]

Blessing to you good mom.from Israel

[@vivienned1934]

What an amazing woman and son .sometimes the world is wonderfull. Go leslie. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@sarahs2288]

Love in your heart keeps you youthful and beautiful. This woman is just lovely in every way.

[@jacquelinesmith7756]

A beautiful story x Bless her for giving him the love of a parent x I hope he makes her proud... Well done mother n son xx

[@lovingmayberry307]

Bless you both!!!

[@mikelclark9723]

More people like you a angel 😇 are needed 🙏 God bless you young lady your Great!!!!

[@mendrajewaru8175]

Mother Theresa said We can give everything but motherly and fatherly love to all of this children.

[@timothyoo7]

God bless ya Lesley!!!

[@dawnhemphill6743]

Happy tears, beautiful story

[@truepeace8906]

This is very humbling God bless

[@SarahRavenclaw]

He looks so much better without the beard! Awesome story though! 😂

[@jattdaputt7196]

yeah 😂

[@dachadoodle7146]

How?

[@shakadahutson285]

Your likes are at 123, so this is my like right here 👍🏾 lol

[@SarahRavenclaw]

@@shakadahutson285 lol I had no idea. Totally forgot making this comment... still stand by it though lol glad I’m not alone. 😂

[@shakadahutson285]

@@SarahRavenclaw You're definitely not (sidenote, somebody messed it up 😭)

[@andreroestenberg6346]

Amazing story. Glad Dakota got a loving home. There is a god! Amazing mother!! And congratulations!