Brave Jimmy scooped up the baby and took him home to his mother Elicie Jean, 66, where he was washed, dressed and fed milk, before being taken for medical attention. Jimmy and his mom then reported the incident to the police, and when the police couldn’t find the baby’s birth parents, a judge asked Jimmy to become the baby’s legal guardian – whom Jimmy named Emilio Angel Jeremiah. In December 2017, Jimmy returned home to visit his mom in Haiti during a study break from Texas State University. Since he was a teenager, Jimmy has been helping out at the orphanage next to his house, and on this trip he brought gifts for the children.
He was on his way to the orphanage when he encountered a large group of people huddled around a garbage can. Jimmy Amicial, now 27, was visiting his hometown in Haiti when he came across a four-month-old baby in a garbage can covered in ants. The University of Texas student picked up the baby and took it home to his mother Elicie Jean, 66, where he was washed, dressed and fed. Elicie and Jimmy then contacted the police, who were unable to find the birth parent of the baby, so a judge asked Jimmy to adopt the baby he named Emilio Angel. Jimmy walked to the front of the commotion and to his disbelief there was a four month old baby inside. No one knew how the baby ended up there, and to this day, no one knows who its parents are, Jimmy said. “When I woke up that day, I was completely unaware that my life was about to change forever,” Jimmy said. “People were crowding around this bin and I heard them arguing about what to do with this tiny baby. “Everyone was staring at him – not a soul wanted to help. “He was crying and he had no clothes on and I could see the pain in his eyes – I had to do something.” Jimmy took the four-month-old and took it to his mother’s house.
She was shocked, but immediately willing to do whatever she could to ease his pain and suffering. Together they washed him, dressed him and fed him milk and took him to the doctors for a check up as he was covered in ant bites from the garbage. Although the police launched a search to find the boy’s parents, they were never located. Although it was a difficult decision, Jimmy finally decided to agree to care for the child with the help of his mother and is raising money to legally adopt him Jimmy splits his time between the United States and Gonaives, Haiti, where Emilio is cared for by Elicie Now Jimmy has applied to officially adopt Emilio, to officially become his dad, and added that the experience has been “rewarding” A few days passed and after a hearing about what should be done about the baby, a judge asked the then 22-year-old Jimmy if he would become the legal guardian of baby Jimmy, who was named Emilio. Jimmy said: “When I was asked to bring him up, I stayed awake for days to and fro, trying to make up my mind. “I was already behind in university fees and my family was always struggling to make ends meet. “But I didn’t have a dad when I was growing up and this poor kid faced a life of instability and uncertainty. “Something inside me said this had happened for a reason – so I took a leap of faith. “Sometimes you don’t have to know what to do, you just have to be ready to do it.” After thinking long and hard about the judge’s request, Jimmy agreed to raise him with his mother’s help. She named the baby Emilio and four and a half years later, the two have developed an inspiring bond. Elicie has been an important part of their journey, taking care of Emilio while Jimmy attends college and works. Since then, Jimmy, who attends the University of Texas, splits his time between the United States and Gonaives, Haiti, where Emilio is being cared for by Elysee. Now Jimmy has applied to officially adopt Emilio, to officially become his dad. Jimmy, who is studying communications and electronic media, said: “When I found him he was four months old – now he’s almost five. Emilio Angel Jeremiah is now almost five years old and the two have formed an inspiring bond and Jimmy said Emilio is “a special little boy”. Emilio, who started school this year, is bright and loves music. He wants to be a musician when he grows up “It’s been an incredible journey and watching him grow has been so rewarding – I’m so proud of him. I had to do what I had to do when no one else wanted to and I’m so grateful for the last four and a half years. “I really feel like a father and I’m excited to put pen to paper and make Emilio my son – I just have to raise the money first. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to turn his life from being abandoned in the trash to a wonderful treasure.” In order to support his family, Jimmy has had to take some time off from his studies, but he is now preparing to start his third year in September. Emilio, who started school this year, is bright and loves music. He wants to be a musician when he grows up. Jimmy began the formal process of legally adopting Emilio in 2020, but needs to raise $30,000 to complete the adoption. Until he has the money, he will not be given a completion date. “It’s been fun watching him grow up – he’s a joy to be around,” Jimmy said. “Mommy loves him, the kids at the orphanage love him, and I love him as if he were my own. He really is a special little boy.”