A college student in Texas planned a complicated surprise to ask her stepfather a question he has been waiting for years to hear: whether he would be willing to adopt her.
Caylie Olvera-Derrick, who is 20 years old, stated, “He started crying, and so I started crying too.”
According to her, her stepfather, Remel Derrick, has been there for her “literally every step of the way” since she was seven years old, attending events such as track meets and soccer practice, as well as homecoming and graduation.
Remel, who is 42 years old, said, “I have never, ever called her my stepdaughter.” “I would always say that she was my daughter when I introduced her.”
For years, Remel had wanted to adopt Caylie, but she claims that she never felt prepared to accept his commitment.
Caylie stated, “When I was younger, I thought, ‘If he adopts me, then he’ll probably leave me in the end.'” “I am now 20 years old, and he is still around.”
She and her mother came up with a plan to meet in Houston, where she is studying. They would go out to eat together as a family and then give Remel a series of presents, the last of which would be a pen and the adoption forms for him to sign.
In the video below, you can see the emotional moment when this father-daughter relationship becomes official.
Remel laughed and remarked, “I had no idea.” “I was really amazed… It was one of the most affirming experiences I’ve ever had.
Remel claims that he is referred to as “Papa Bear” by his family because of his tendency to be protective and paternalistic. However, when Caylie was a teenager, they went through a difficult time because she was dealing with problems related to abandonment, relationships, and trust.
He said, “Your perspective on the world is changing, and your way of thinking is changing.” “I went through some difficult times because I was aware that she was having a hard time on the inside, and there was really nothing I could do to help her.” Even though it wasn’t my fault, there were times when it felt like it was.
Regardless, he continued to be there for Caylie, whether it was for a family vacation or just to listen to her talk about a breakup.
She claims that the constant presence of family in her life, even during difficult times, is the very definition of family.
Caylie stated, “Remel has been my father since the day he came into my life, and nothing could change that.” She also mentioned that she has officially taken his last name in addition to the adoption.