Groton Couple Raises Money To Reunite Brothers From Ethiopia
GROTON (CBS) - Brothers David, 6, and Jack, 5, are inseparable. Their parents are now on a mission to unite their other brother with the family.
"'What about my brother we left behind?' and we didn't know," said the boy's mother Susan Daly.
Tony Hawgood and Susan Daly adopted the boys two-and-a-half years ago from Ethopia. They originally planned to adopt one child.
"I saw his (David's) picture and it just stopped me in my tracks," said Daly. When they found out David had a brother, they added two to their family.
"Best thing we've ever done best thing I've done in my life," said Tony Hawgood.
The brothers moved with their new family to Groton. As soon as the boys could express themselves, the couple found out there was an older brother. The older brother, Eyob, had taken care of the boys.
"For me he took care of them, his turn," said Hawgood.
"It's how it was meant to be. David and Jack have the closest relationship I've ever seen, and they've never forgotten about their brother," said Daly.
Through the adoption agency and a lot of work, the couple was able to find the boys' brother who is around 9-years old.
A third bed is already added to the boys' room. David and Jack are eager to teach their older brother about the alphabet and having fun.
Tony teaches at Lawrence Academy and is also volunteer firefighter. Susan works as a Groton firefighter. They are still coming up with the possible $50,000 in adoption costs.
Family, friends and strangers have started donating money to cover the costs. At the urging of friends, the couple set up a GoFundMe page. "It's been an amazing and humbling that people have wanted to support this," said Hawgood.
David already has an American name for his older brother picked out, Yoda. His parents said that won't happen. They said what they hope will happen is that Eyob will come to the U.S. in the fall.
To help the family raise money, visit http://www.gofundme.com/u3k67hw
