By Byron Mason II

Mayra Mercado of Far Rockaway, New York was stuck at home in April 2020. COVID had shut the world inside, and Mayra was a Physician Associate who had gotten sick from her patients. While Marya recovered on her couch, the Emmy-winning documentary series “The Day I Picked My Parents” came on. This was the day that Mayra learned about Kidsave.

Mayra and her husband, Peter, had always wanted to adopt. They were fostering kids in New York, but every placement was meant to be temporary. Each child was in the process of being reunified with their biological family.

Kidsave seemed like something different. After watching the docuseries, Mayra made a phone call. A few months later, she attended a Kidsave event in New Jersey, meeting other prospective parents looking to adopt.

“The community there brought me in,” Mayra explained. “Everyone is in the same boat.”

At first, Mayra and Peter were not looking to adopt a teenager.

“There is the misconception that they are all too difficult,” Mayra explained.

But then they learned about Kidsave's Summer Miracles program, which brings older orphans from Colombia to the U.S. for 5 weeks every summer. It was then that Mayra and Peter began to consider hosting a 15-year-old Colombian teenager named David. His dream was to come to New York.

Mayra remembers that before David’s arrival, she and Peter had a conversation with him on Zoom.

“The Zoom call was supposed to be twenty minutes,” Mayra recalled. “It turned out to be an hour. We just knew.”

When Mayra and Peter finally met David in person, it was love at first sight.

“He was perfect for us,” Mayra said. “Peter knew in the car on the way home. He’s like our son.”

But even with this instant connection, not everything was perfect. At least for Mayra.

“Peter and David bonded more,” Mayra explained. “A lot of the boys have had a lot of female figures in the foster system. Not a lot of men. They’ve never had that relationship.”

Eventually, they were able to find common ground. Namely, their love for the ocean.

“David grew up in the middle of Colombia and never saw the ocean,” Mayra said.

Beach trips and surfing lessons bridged the gap between them.

“I have loved the sea since I was a young child,” Mayra began. “We have the east coast mecca for surfing and once [David] entered the sea, it became his happy place.”

Even before David’s hosting period ended, Mayra and Peter started the paperwork for adoption. Once the hosting period officially ends and host families are set on adopting their host child, the host families are required to travel to Colombia for an in country stay. Mayra and Peter didn’t hesitate to make the trip.

Once the adoption process was completed, they were able to return to New York a new family. Mayra calls David “her blessing.”

“People told him that because he was older, he wasn’t going to get adopted,” Mayra remarked. “He’s so grateful. He realizes his chances were slimmer and that makes him more appreciative.”

As for the entire Kidsave Summer Miracles experience, Mayra can’t say enough positive things.

“People are worn out because they’ve tried to adopt, and it doesn’t work out,” Mayra said. “But they are helping someone fulfill their dream. Kidsave made my dream come true.”

Back in 2020, Mayra and Peter were unsure of the parents they were going to be and how expanding their family would look. These days, their time is spent shuttling their teenager to surf lessons, impromptu English lectures, and reminding him to take a break from video games. Mayra wouldn’t want it any other way.

Recently, David was accepted into a Youth Aviation Program sponsored by Queens Assemblyman Clyde Vanel and was awarded a full scholarship. Mayra and Peter could not be prouder.

“[Kidsave] gives voice to the kids,” Mayra said. “Everyone should get a choice. There shouldn’t be any other way to adopt a kid.”