In a heartwarming display of determination, a nine-year-old boy named Ethan Thompson set up a lemonade stand last weekend to fund his own adoption. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Ethan sold refreshing cups of lemonade for $1 each, taking significant steps toward finalizing his adoption process.
“I feel really happy because I have a new mom who loves me,” Ethan shared about his adoptive mother, Lucy Morgan, who has been a loving presence in his life since he was just three months old. Alongside Ethan, Morgan organized a yard sale at their home in Springfield, Missouri, aiming to gather the $5,000 needed for legal expenses.
Morgan and her husband, Mark, have long considered Ethan their son. “He means everything to us. He’s truly in our hearts,” Lucy expressed. “This is about giving him the reassurance that he has a forever family with our last name.”
Ethan’s journey began when his biological mother reached out to Lucy for help, struggling with addiction while Ethan was still an infant. At one point, she attempted to care for him but ultimately left him on the doorstep of a shelter on a bitterly cold day in 2012. Fortunately, Lucy, already involved in Ethan’s life, received a call from the shelter.
“I was terrified,” she recalled. “I worried about how he felt, if he was scared or hurt.” Since then, Lucy and Mark have acted as Ethan’s kinship guardians. “In our hearts, he’s our son,” Lucy affirmed. “No one can tell us otherwise. He wants to be legally ours.”
Ethan feels a strong sense of belonging too. “I know she’s responsible and takes great care of me,” he said of Lucy. “I know she’s going to be an amazing mother.” Now, the family simply needed to raise the funds to make their bond official. Their yard sale and lemonade stand turned out to be huge successes, bringing in approximately $7,100 over the weekend.
Ethan’s inspiring story captured national attention, prompting the family to start an online fundraiser on YouCaring.com. They shared their journey and, as of Monday morning, supporters had contributed $8,410, leaving heartfelt messages of encouragement.
“There aren’t enough words to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported us or donated,” Lucy said. “Thanks to this generosity, we will ensure this child will always be ours.”
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In summary, Ethan’s lemonade stand is not just a charming story; it represents the determination of a young boy eager to secure his place within a loving family. The support from the community has been overwhelming, ensuring that his dream of adoption is just around the corner.