Context:

John and Cassie Dibble, parents of six, adopted Christian, a 14-year-old boy with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) from Colombia in 2023, joining their biological son Jacob who also has this rare genetic disorder. Initially overwhelmed by the idea of adopting another child with OI, Cassie felt a divine confirmation that she was equipped to care for Christian, leading to the adoption. Christian, who spent most of his life in a children's home without specialized care, arrived in the U.S. with severe bone deformities and a precarious medical outlook; however, he has made significant progress, including taking his first steps with assistance in June. The adoption process was financially challenging, costing nearly $55,000, but the family received support from their church and other organizations, experiencing what they believed to be divine intervention in the form of timely financial help. Christian's integration into the family has been transformative, with him learning English rapidly, bonding with his siblings, and aspiring to swim for America after watching the Paralympics.

Dive Deeper:

• John and Cassie Dibble's decision to adopt Christian, who shares the same brittle bone disease as their biological son Jacob, stemmed from a desire to provide a nurturing environment for another child with special needs, an idea that initially seemed overwhelming but became a mission they felt divinely equipped for.

• Christian's biological mother in Colombia surrendered him shortly after birth due to a lack of resources to meet his complex needs, resulting in him spending much of his life without specialized care, leading to severe bone deformities and a body size more akin to a much younger child.

• The Dibbles faced substantial financial challenges in adopting Christian, with expenses totaling nearly $55,000, but with assistance from their church and other organizations, they were able to overcome these barriers, experiencing what they perceived as divine intervention when unexpected funds arrived just as major bills were due.

• Upon arriving in the United States, Christian required extensive medical interventions, including multiple surgeries to realign his bones, which lasted several hours each, and despite initial doubts about his ability to walk, he defied expectations by taking his first steps with the aid of a walker and leg braces.

• Christian has quickly adapted to his new life, learning English at an impressive rate and forming close bonds with his siblings, especially Jacob and Jack, with whom he shares a room, and he has set ambitious goals for himself, inspired by watching the Paralympics, aiming to swim for America in the future.