By Byron Mason II

Liz Santiago and Pelayo Durán didn’t plan to become parents. Living in Coral Gables, Florida, matters changed for the couple when a friend recommended them to the Kidsave Summer Miracles Program.

“We weren’t prepared or looking,” Pelayo shared. “We were at a juncture in our lives where we didn’t have any other plans for children. This came about very organically.”

After taking some time to learn more about Summer Miracles, a five-week hosting program for orphans from Colombia, Liz and Pelayo decided it was something they could do. Liz remembers the time leading up to the arrival of the cohort of kids.

“There were two chaperones and five or six kids,” Liz said. “They had a layover in Chicago. And we didn’t want them to stay in a hotel and said, ‘Why don’t you stay with us?’ And that’s how we met Johan.”

After meeting Johan for the first time, Liz and Pelayo were paired with a different child for the summer. And even that initial hosting experience proved to be insightful for the couple.

“We started to understand what it means to advocate for the children and what the program was all about,” Liz said.

As time went on, Liz and Pelayo realized that they and the child they had initially hosted might not be just right for each other. It’s natural for this to happen, and that’s one of the values of the program – kids and adults get to know each other to see if they are a good fit, and if they are not, the Kidsave team helps them make changes. For this couple, that meant they were finally paired with Johan.

“From the minute I met him, I just knew,” Liz said. “I didn’t know why, but I knew he was my son.”

Johan was 10 years old when he arrived in the United States for his hosting experience. During that summer, he spent time with several families. But something felt different with Liz and Pelayo.

Johan recalled. “I didn’t feel the bond with the others, but with them, I did.”

After the five-week hosting period ended, the children returned to Colombia. Host families are then given the option to begin the adoption process. Once Johan returned home, Liz and Pelayo didn’t hesitate.

“When he left, that’s when our process really started,” Liz said. “Once you’re decisive about what you want to do, you follow the whole adoption protocol.”

Johan was 12 years old when he officially became part of Liz and Pelayo’s family. Upon joining, growing pains were bound to occur. Johan was navigating a new language, a new culture, and a multicultural school environment.

“Sometimes I’d get calls from the principal,” Liz laughed. “He’d say something in Spanish that didn’t translate so well in English.”

Pelayo noted that learning English came with its own challenges. “People speak differently depending on culture. That added another layer.”

There were also gaps in expectations.

“At Christmas, Johan would drag his feet,” Liz said. “No motivation. We had to bridge that gap and understand that he was still integrating—new foods, new routines, new everything.”

Over time, things shifted. Liz remembers the moment clearly. Johan brought home a piece of artwork she assumed was done by his teacher.

“When we realized it was his, we saw this natural talent,” she said. “As a family, we decided to lean into that.”

Pelayo reflected, “In retrospect, you don’t know exactly when the integration ends. You just look back one day and realize how far you’ve come.”

Johan has changed, too.

“The process felt super organic,” he said. “I’ve learned you can learn from someone else’s mistakes, not just your own.”

For Liz, adoption has been transformative.

“It’s been the most gratifying, beautiful experience,” she said. “My son is where he is today because of everyone who gave something along the way—counselors, mentors, so many people.”

Pelayo offered advice for future Kidsave parents: “Brace yourself. Timing matters, but age shouldn’t stop you. One more plate of food. A little more time. That’s all it takes to profoundly change a life.”

Johan smiled as Pelayo summed it up best: “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

And in this family, they found each other exactly when they were meant to.