In a heartfelt conclusion to the adoption proceedings, 5-year-old Cameron expressed the deep bond he shares with his new legal mother, Jennifer Hubby.
During an adoption hearing in Bernalillo, New Mexico, Judge Cheryl H. Johnston invited anyone present to share final thoughts. To everyone's surprise, Cameron spoke up, saying, “I wanted to say that I love my mom so much and that she’s the best mom I ever had.”
His touching declaration moved Jennifer deeply, prompting her to embrace him in a tender moment of support. Milly Davies, Jennifer’s best friend, captured the emotional scene on camera, with her voice breaking as she recorded the heartfelt exchange.
Jennifer reflected on the moment, telling Good Morning America, “When the judge asked if we had anything to say for the record, I was nervous and said something that didn’t feel very moving.
Cameron looked at me and whispered, ‘Can I say something?' His bravery in speaking up in such a formal setting was extraordinary.”
Jennifer recalled, “When he said, ‘I love my mom so much,' I started crying. You can see my head drop, and then he turned to me and hugged me. It was incredibly emotional.
You could hear the tears from others in the room, and even the judge was touched, responding with, ‘Oh, my gosh,' before offering her own words of encouragement.”
Judge Johnston remarked, “It’s important to tell people you love them and that they matter. You’re a lucky guy to have such love around you. That’s what we’re here for. It’s a good thing.”
For Jennifer, this moment was the culmination of a long journey. Having been in Cameron’s life as his stepmother since birth, she adopted him to ensure she had legal recognition as his mother in the event anything happened to her wife, Kim Hubby, Cameron’s biological mother.
The adoption process, often lengthy and costly, took years to plan and six months to finalize. The average domestic adoption in the U.S. can cost between $25,000 and $45,000, with 117,470 children still waiting for adoption as of 2020.
Cameron’s courageous words and Jennifer’s emotional response highlight the profound joy and closeness that adoption can bring. One can only hope that in the future, the adoption process will become more accessible and affordable, allowing more families to experience such meaningful moments.