Photographer: Laura Turbow
Moore Family
Moore Family
When the placement social worker asked Dorian to bring home a five day old baby the answer was, “Yes, of course it was yes”. Dorian had hoped to for an infant or toddler but didn’t expect one so young and tiny. Quickly, along with friends and family, Dorian swung into action and all was assembled for the tiny premature baby. Lots of sleep deprivation, and countless loads of laundry later Chavelo is a contented, healthy, toddler.Dorian worked hard to form a positive reationship with Chavelo’s birth family and paved the way for some continual involvement in his life. “He’s bound to have questions about his origins and together we can answer those. But now my job is helping him to have a good foundation.” Dorian is committed to teaching him about, and involving him in the cultures of his birth family, and fortunately they live in a diverse Bay Area neighborhood where he is already learning Spanish. “And I’m relearning it.” Dorian says, “I never knew that those five years of Spanish classes would pay off in such an important way. He is truly the son I always dreamed of having. I had two days to get ready for Chavelo, but I’ll have the rest of my life to be there for him.”