14 DAY TRIAL // In August 2000, a social worker found a newborn baby in a subway station in New York City. The man ended up adopting the child with his partner, reports say.
According to the Christian Post, the child was lying on a stairway, with his umbilical cord still attached. Danny Stewart, finding him, first thought he came across a doll. Coming closer, he noticed the newborn was breathing and immediately alerted authorities.
He also called his partner Peter Mercurio, who swiftly arrived at the scene, and babysat until the police arrived to check out the case.
After Social Services took the child, Stewart was asked to appear in court and describe how he recovered him.
During the hearing, the judge prompted him to take him into his custody. Before even consulting with his boyfriend, Stewart agreed, telling the judge he would adopt him.
"Would you be interested in adopting this baby?" he was asked.
Mercurio was startled by the life-changing decision at first, but closer consideration revealed that the couple might not have other chances to adopt.
Neither of them expected to have the baby with them soon, but proceedings were expedited and they were able to adopt him in a mere 36 hours and they had their son with them by Christmas time.
They initially named him "Baby ACE," inspired by the location where he was recovered. Stewart found him in a station that connected the A, C and E lines. The name was later changed to Kevin, who he is safe and sound and now twelve years old.
The couple was only able to tie the knot in 2011, when gay marriage became legal in New York State. When they did have the opportunity to get married, Danny and Peter had one judge in mind to officiate the ceremony, the same person who allowed them to be fathers. A playwright, Peter is now documenting their journey in a flick that will be titled "Found."