Plainfield Teen Gives Adoption Papers to Lifelong Father Figure

PLAINFIELD, IL — Despite not being her biological father, Plainfield resident Joe Losco has always looked upon 18-year-old Lauren Hernandez as his daughter, so perhaps he didn’t need the gift she gave him. But that didn’t make it any less meaningful.

At a July 30 party for Lauren's graduation from Plainfield South High School, she handed her unsuspecting surrogate father a present. When he saw what was inside, he wept.

It contained adoption papers.

Joe has been in Lauren’s life for the past 17 years. He is, for all intents and purposes, her father. But Lauren and her mom Sally felt it was time to make it official.

“Lauren has been wanting for years to be adopted by Joe,” Sally said. “Lauren’s biological dad is around, but they don’t speak. She wants nothing to do with him.”

Lauren thought it wouldn’t be possible for Joe to officially adopt her, as her biological father would be unlikely to go along with it.

And then they found out about adult adoption.

“We started to look more into it, and Lauren wanted to do it,” Sally said. “We found a lawyer to draw up the papers, and she wanted to surprise him with it.”

Joe is more than just a father to Lauren. He’s a friend, a confidant, someone she can go to for anything. He’s taken her to pumpkin patches and made time for little things that mean a lot.

“He’s done so much for me. I can’t even find a way to thank him for everything he’s done for me. He’s one of the best people who ever came into my life,” Lauren said.

And there was no part of her that thought maybe he wouldn’t want the papers.

“He was at a loss of words. He knew, but he didn’t think it was real. All kinds of emotions,” Lauren said.

With Joe and Sally being together for nearly two decades, some might ask why not just get married. Sally says they plan to, it just wasn’t something they needed to do.

“It’s nothing we feel we need to rush into after 17 years,” she said. “For us as far as marriage goes, a piece of paper doesn’t mean anything. Some people might question why Lauren needed that piece of paper for Joe, but it’s a completely different reason. There’s no other way for her to show him how she really feels.”

And for Joe, it meant everything.

“For the last 17 years, it’s been no different between me and my biological daughters,” he said. “It’s just very gratifying. It also lets me know that she knows I love her and I’ve been there for her.”

Adopting Lauren was something Joe always wanted to do, but again, her biological father stood in the way.

“I was under the assumption that opportunity was gone,” Joe said.

And when he saw those papers, the waterworks flowed.

“I was overwhelmed with joy. That’s the only way I can really describe it. It’s something that I wanted that she was able to give me. It’s one of the best gifts anyone could have given me,” he said.

Lauren should officially become Joe’s adopted daughter in a few weeks when all the paperwork is finalized. Lauren plans to attend Triton College in River Grove to become an ultrasound technician.

In March 2016, a Joliet woman also gave adoption papers to the man who raised her.

Video screenshot: Lauren Hernandez hugs her soon-to-be dad after he realizes she has given him adoption papers. (Video courtesy of Sally Hernandez)