Do you remember The Mayor of Angel House?
This big personality arrived in a very tiny package!
Comerson, otherwise known as “The Mayor”, came to us near the end of March 2012. He was the very first child to come into our care as we were reopening Angel House after the loss of our original house in the January 2010 earthquake. This tiny baby boy arrived sick and severely malnourished, but we were ready; we had prepared and prayed and waited for Comerson to arrive, and he was finally here. (Read more about Comerson’s arrival HERE.)
Fast forward to October 2014 when Comerson went home with his forever family—now strong, healthy, and full of personality (read more about that HERE). That was five and a half years ago, and the time has flown by! Comerson’s mom, Sue, shared what’s been going on since they walked out of our gates as a family all those years ago.
Read on to hear Comerson’s Story…
“Transitioning home was a doozy.”
“I️ don't think we truly believed that the adoption journey would be so difficult. In spite of all the months of preparation, adoption books and curriculum, and stories from experts, I️ still feel we were unprepared for a child that had experienced trauma.”
“The first nine months were a sweet honeymoon period with lots of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ because he was the cutest thing ever! I enjoyed rocking him to sleep and watching his eyes glisten with glee as he experienced things for the first time; things like riding in the machine (AKA, our big Suburban) and meeting the mascot at the high school football game brought him pure delight. Other things were confusing and left him a bit awe struck—things like wearing a jacket or watching his hand disappear when he put on a glove or meeting the dog and wondering ‘why doesn't this dog stop licking me?’”
“Comerson did not sleep well.”
“He would cry for hours and hours, only to be up and wandering around the house a few short hours later. We had to install deadbolts on all the doors because one night we found him outside—thank goodness our yard is gated! But you could see it from the get-go: this kid is a survivor. I️ don't think he could quite understand how he ended up here in the USA, and eventually it started to show. Temper tantrums and biting ensued for a season.”
“Adoption is not for the faint of heart…”
“…but it certainly is a treasure worth waiting for. Our son turned a corner a year ago (four years post-adoption), and we could see that he was finally settling in and beginning to feel comfortable. He began to truly bond with us, and I️ think he finally let down his walls and decided, ‘Hey, this is home. No matter what I️ do...they love me. I️ feel safe.’ And yes, five years later, it no longer feels like we have a newborn. He sleeps through the night now—Woohoo!”
“Comerson almost immediately noticed other people with his skin color. One fond memory was early on when we were watching football on TV; he walked up to the TV and started yelling, ‘My people, my people!’ in Creole. We cracked up laughing and reassured him he would see a lot more of them, no worries. However, you could tell he was puzzled. In the mall, he walked up to an African American gentleman and it was evident that he could not quite make sense at all of this man who looked like him but didn’t talk like him. Thankfully, our older daughters were able to communicate with him pretty well, since they had spent a great deal of time in Haiti, and we were also blessed by a Mother's Day Out teacher who spoke French and had 25 years of experience as an ESL teacher. As I️ look back, I️ see how God provided for us time and time again.”
“There have been many ups and downs along the way.”
“Probably the biggest struggle for Comerson has been school. He can bust a new dance move in a heartbeat, but sitting still for hours and hours is a challenge. Making friends, however, comes quite naturally to him, as does his precious smile. This boy lights up a room like nobody else I've ever met! He likes to make others smile, too, and he is an amazing encourager. He has his own sense of style and absolutely loves shoes—he will choose a new pair of shoes over a toy anytime! Early on, he even wanted to wear his beloved shoes to bed. He has managed to become the most popular kid at school due to his swag and his big personality. I️ guess that is why the nickname “Mayor” from his Angel House days still fits: he is a natural leader. Truly, Comerson lives life to the fullest every single day.”
Mr. Personality!
“Comerson is a typical rambunctious and outgoing boy who is incredibly athletic. He can wake-board with the best of them, tackle in football, hit a baseball, and throw up some hoops on the basketball court. He is creative, imaginative, and musically gifted. I️ think Comerson's imagination and love for music were inspired by his days at Angel House, and I️ am so thankful for that. Music and dancing in the kitchen are part of our family’s daily rhythm. Comerson loves to sing, and this kid has talent!”
Making face masks
“Comerson tells us he wants to be a superhero when he grows up, like Spider Man. He wants to be able to help people when they are in trouble. You can see his care and concern, even when he hears a baby crying in the grocery store. In the future, he dreams about being both a doctor and fireman, or maybe both!”
“Recently, with the coronavirus pandemic, Comerson wanted to do something to help others, so he started making face masks for family and friends. In the process, he learned how to iron and sew.”
“Comerson's first visit back to Haiti was nine months after adoption.”
“He was scared and clung on very tightly and wasn't sure what was going on when we took him to rural Haiti on a short-term mission trip. Comerson has returned to Haiti many times since then, and I️ am sure that he will again one day when the social unrest dies down. I️ would like him to visit his nannies from Angel House, too; I️ think it would be good for him to see where he spent the early years of his life.”
“I️ am not sure what he remembers from those early years, but there is no doubt that his personality and love for music were woven into who he is by his nannies and his fellow Angel House friends. I know that their strong influence is why he so willingly shares with others and is empathetic when someone is hurting, and I believe it helped to spark his joy for life. I️ think that Comerson sometimes misses that constant, tight community and wishes he had a slew of playmates close by again.”
We think the Angel House residents would be very pleased to see the Mayor again, too!
