Nearly $70K raised for Texas student adopting Haitian baby he found abandoned in trash can

Jimmy Amisial, the Texas college student who set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds to adopt a baby he found in a trash can in Haiti, has received nearly $70,000 in donations.

As reported by Face2Face Africa, Amisial said he needed $30,000 to be able to facilitate the adoption. He has so far received more than double of that. The college student expressed his gratitude in an update on the crowdfunding platform on Monday.

“I’m humbled by your expression of love and support. Your generosity and contributions will make a big difference in other people lives. Your donations will be used to hopefully get Emilio fully adopted,” Amisial shared. “Pay for Emilio’s schooling, to support the local orphanages; needy families, kids in the community and possibly pay for my education and school debts. With you all that can be possible.”

Amisial was in Haiti to visit his mother when he found Emilio Angel Jeremiah abandoned in a trash can. The college student said he was headed to an orphanage when he found the minor.

“When I woke up that day, I was totally unaware that my life was about to change forever,” Amisial told Daily Mail. “People were crowding round this bin and I heard them arguing about what to do with this tiny baby. Everyone was just staring at him – not a single soul wanted to help. He was crying and had no clothes on and I could see the pain in his eyes – I had to do something.”

The college student is said to have taken the baby from the trash can before taking him home. He and his 66-year-old mother then freshened the minor up, fed him and sought medical help. The minor had suffered ant bites at the time he was found.

And though the 27-year-old and his mother also notified police about the abandoned baby, efforts by law enforcement to locate the minor’s parents proved futile. Amisial ultimately agreed to become the baby’s legal guardian after a judge tabled the offer.

Amisial said it took him a while to decide if he wanted to become Emilio’s legal guardian. But he ultimately decided to raise the baby with his mother’s assistance. The minor, who is now four years old, has emotionally bonded with Amisial over the years. The 27-year-old has since submitted an application to adopt Emilio as he wants to take a fatherly role in the minor’s life. 

“It’s been an incredible journey and watching him grow up has been so rewarding – I’m very proud of him,” he said. “I had to do what I had to do when no one else wanted to do it, and I’m so grateful for the past four and a half years. I truly do feel like a father, and I’m excited to put pen to paper and make Emilio my son – I just need to raise the money first.”

He added: “I’m glad I got the opportunity to transform his life from being abandoned in the trash to being a wonderful treasure.”