In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, Hannah Robinson shared that she knew she would adopt her younger brother from the moment he was born.
Robinson was 19 years old and in college when her father welcomed a premature baby boy named T.J. But their father was dealing with homelessness and addiction and T.J.’s mother was also dealing with addiction. T.J. was placed in foster care while his parents tried to overcome their issues. Robinson said she knew immediately that she wanted to adopt her brother as soon as it was possible.
“I never imagined anything different,” she said. “He needs somebody, and I’m going to be that person.”
T.J. was born at 32 weeks and after he was released from the hospital he went to the first of many foster care families as he was not able to be placed for adoption at the time. Robinson told her then-boyfriend, Drew Munn, about her plan to adopt T.J. someday and told him, “I need you to decide right now — are you on board or not?”
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Though at first he wasn’t sure they were ready to be parents, he knew how important it was to Robinson.
“We were still in college, still gaining adult experience,” says Munn, now a 25-year-old engineer officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. “But T.J. needed us. Hannah’s conviction convinced me.”
Robinson explained more on Instagram:
TJs parents were temporarily living in BC when he was born in 2017, very premature. Due to drugs and the domestic violence that caused him to be born so early, he was put into a foster home straight from the hospital. A few months later his parents were given custody of him … This is when I first met TJ and my whole world changed.
At the time, each of his parents had 2 children already that they did not have custody of. I knew that TJs story would be the same, I knew that he would need someone, and 19 year old Hannah decided that would be me (and sweet Drew said that we would do it together). I grew up with the most amazing mother and I truly believed that I was meant to be that for TJ.
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After they graduated from college, the couple bought a house and set up a room for T.J.
Robinson had been keeping in touch with her brother’s social workers but wasn’t allowed to visit him for over a year. After a new social worker was assigned to his case, she was finally able to see T.J.
“He came over to me and gave me the biggest hug,” she said. “He said, ‘I missed you so much.'”
After that meeting, the social worker realized Robinson was “T.J.’s safe place.” She told her, “He doesn’t belong anywhere else other than with you.”
Finally, a now-five-year-old T.J. moved in with the couple. A year later, he wore a tux that matched Munn’s at the couple’s wedding and received a ring of his own.
“He really thought of it as his wedding,” said Robinson. “I love how we’ve all chosen to be together.” She added, “Every time he calls us mom or dad, it just feels so, so special.”
Robinson shares their family’s story on Instagram. T.J. has been asking for a “baby brother” and his wish will come true as Robinson and Munn are expecting a baby boy in October.
