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4 Siblings Embrace New Brother After Family Adopts Him From Colombian
Orphanage

   Inspirational
   3:09 PM PST, December 17, 2018 - JOHANNA LI

4 Siblings Embrace New Brother After Family Adopts Him From Colombian
Orphanage

   Inspirational
   3:09 PM PST, December 17, 2018 - JOHANNA LI
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   Playing 11-Year-Old Orphan Hugs Adoptive California Family in Emotional
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   Four siblings embraced their newest adopted brother in a tight hug as
   they prepare to take him to his forever home in California.

   Sebastian, 11, once an orphan growing up in Colombia, is now preparing
   to spend the holidays as a new member of the Barkey family despite
   having no clue he would be adopted at all until after it was all
   finalized.

   Sebastian spent the summer with JoBen and Amanda Barkey and their three
   sons and daughter, Asher, Judah, Jameis and Mishayla, as a part of a
   hosting program.

   “It was bittersweet for him,” said JoBen, in an interview with T&T
   Creative Media. “He has always wanted to live in a home with a family
   that had a lot of boys and a sister. We were his dream family come
   true."

   According to Colombian law, the Barkey family was not allowed to tell
   Sebastian they intended on adopting him while they were hosting him.

   “When he left, flight crew had to peel his hands off the entrance of
   the plane,” he said. “It's been really hard being separated and always
   thinking about him and wishing we could be there to give him a kiss and
   tuck him in at night.”

   But when they got the approval and worked on securing his immigration
   visa, the Barkeys broke the news to Sebastian and his reaction,
   captured on video, went viral.

   “He could barely believe what he was seeing and hearing because he had
   accepted the fact that our family was too big to ever adopt another
   child,” JoBen said. “He was overcome with surprise and happiness at the
   same time.”

   The family originally told Sebastian they wouldn't be able to collect
   him until February since they were unsure how long the adoption process
   might take, but surprised him earlier this month, just in time to take
   him home for the holidays.

   “The moment we saw him, a flood of emotions came over all of us as we
   knew that we were together forever,” JoBen said.

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