Jimmy Amisial’s split-second act of compassion turned an abandoned infant’s tragedy into a life-changing journey toward adoption.
When 22-year-old college student Jimmy Amisial returned from Texas to his hometown of Gonaives, Haiti, to celebrate New Year’s Eve in 2018, he never imagined his entire future would change before midnight.
As he walked through a crowded street, he noticed a commotion near a local market. Curious, he approached and discovered a shocking sight: a tiny 3-month-old baby lying in a pile of trash, crying and covered in fire ants.
Although nearly 30 people stood around, no one would touch the child. Many believed he was cursed and feared that helping him would bring them misfortune.
Jimmy refused to let superstition decide the baby’s fate. He picked up the child, who stopped crying as soon as Jimmy held him, and he took him to his mother’s home. That night marked the beginning of a bond that endures to this day.
Furthermore, Jimmy reported the situation to the police, and when an investigation revealed no family members, a judge asked him whether he would accept temporary custody.
It was a life-changing question. Jimmy studied communications in Texas and lived on a student visa. He knew raising a baby would be difficult, but with encouragement from his mother, Elicie Jean, he decided that the child deserved protection and love.
He named him Emilio Angel Jeremiah, and from that moment onward, he did everything he could to support him.
Jimmy returned to Texas for school, while Emilio remained in Haiti with his mother; however, he helped care for the child both financially and emotionally.
By 2019, he began working to legalize the adoption, but the process became extremely expensive.
Adoption agencies estimate the cost of adopting a child from Haiti at more than $40,000 without travel and lodging.
Jimmy stepped away from school to work as a landscaper and delivery assistant, saving every dollar he could.
In 2020, he launched an online fundraiser, and supporters from around the world donated. The campaign surpassed $79,000, allowing Jimmy to cover adoption fees, support Emilio’s education, and set aside funds to help other children in Haiti.
Emilio grew into a bright and joyful child. He loves watching Tom and Jerry, playing the guitar, singing, and staying active.
He enjoys soccer and basketball, and Jimmy dreams of seeing him grow into a confident athlete with a future full of possibilities.
They talk several times a week over FaceTime, and Emilio calls him ‘Dad’. Even though the legal process continues, their bond remains strong. Jimmy hopes to bring Emilio to the United States once it is safe and the adoption becomes fully complete.
Jimmy Amisial Has Always Been a Passionate Social Worker
Jimmy’s dedication to children did not begin the night he found Emilio. As a teen in Haiti, he volunteered at local orphanages, learned English through mission programs, and raised money by making bracelets from recycled materials.
He always believed that every child deserves love and dignity, and his story proves that compassion can rewrite even the most painful beginnings.
The journey has not been easy, but the world has watched how Jimmy Amisial adopted a baby many were too afraid to touch and gave him a chance at life.
Today, Jimmy runs a nonprofit organization in Haiti, named 4thelovefoundation, that supports orphans and struggling families.
He says he wants Emilio to grow up knowing that, even though someone abandoned him at the start of his life, he is no longer alone and will never be.
Their story reminds us that parenthood is not only defined by birth, but by courage, commitment, and love that refuses to give up.
