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Last month, there was reported a harrowing story of Peter and Laurent, Belgian husbands living in the South of France, who were reunited with their surrogate son Samuel after being separated from him for 2 1/2 years because the Belgium embassy would not issue the young boy a passport.  Samuel’s surrogate gave birth in the Ukraine, and due to red tape and anti-gay Belgian Embassy officials, the process was slowed to a crawl.  Sam was remanded to a foster home until he was 1, and then he was abandoned at a Ukrainian orphanage, where he stayed until late February when Peter and Laurent successfully got him back.

How did they get him back?

Did the Belgium Embassy suddenly get their heads on straight, and realize the horror show they had unleashed upon this family?

No.

Peter and Laurent got Sam back because after the news report aired on the story, the Belgium Embassy was stormed with e-mails, letters and phone calls.  The outrage became thousands of flaming arrows at their castle walls.  This family would not be together today if it wasn’t for everyone’s intervention.

One month later, the Belgian newscasters that first broke the story have checked back in with the family to see about Sam’s adjustment.

The results are both life-affirming and devastating.  Sam, Peter and Laurent smile, laugh and play a lot.  And the outlook is good that Sam will eventually come to recognize that they are his fathers, and they won’t be sending him away.

That’s where the video gets difficult to watch.  Seeing the little ways Sam communicates that he doesn’t trust the situation entirely yet.  He hides food in his pockets because he’s used to having to make food last the day.  A Ukrainian newsman stops by to interview them, Sam hears his accent and believes he’s from the orphanage; Sam wets his pants and runs away.

The smallest moment of separation anxiety is also the worst: Peter and Laurent read a bedtime story to Sam.  Laurent sits with Sam in his crib.  When the story is over and it’s time for bed, the men leave and Sam screams and wails for them not to leave him.  Given the context of the scene, the three seconds of crying is almost unbearable to watch.

But one month into the relationship, it’s clear that Sam is in expert hands with Peter and Laurent.  Like all ordeals, this doozy will only serve to bring the three of them closer together.  It’s a profoundly affecting story, and I don’t have the slightest idea how the men carried on for as long as they did.  It’s unthinkable.

The video is long (10 minutes), but it’s worth your time.