Hello, we are Carlos and Fátima, from Brazil, currently living in Portugal.

In 2022, we decided to adopt a child, as our first two children had already left home and started their own families.

During the adoption application process, we were surprised by the possibility of adopting four children, as they – two girls and two boys – were biological siblings, a fact that led the judge to rule that they could only be adopted by a person or persons who would keep them together. In other words, the children would only leave the children’s home where they were staying together.

When we first met the children at the shelter where they were staying, the girl Gabrieli immediately looked at Fátima and said: ‘Mummy, it took you a long time to come and get me.

That day, after we had cried copiously whilst hugging the four children, we realised that our fate was sealed; we were going to take home our new children Vitória, Angelo, Gabrieli and Carlos, then aged 10, 8, 6 and 3 respectively.

The challenges of raising the little ones are enormous, ranging from the psychological and emotional aspects, through the heavy financial burden, to the spiritual side. Nevertheless, everything is going well; the children are healthy, have grown up and are properly settled into family life.

Challenges arise and are overcome. This is where we rely on the solidarity of those reading this brief account. We need help to better cover the children’s day-to-day material needs, such as better nutrition, medical care and the costs of their education. Furthermore, here in Portugal we have bought a house in ruins and are renovating it; this property is now our home, which has allowed us to stop paying rent on the flat where we had been living since our arrival in this wonderful country, Portugal.

But there is still much to be done. 🙌🕊