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While scrolling through profiles of children up for adoption, Steve and Manuel were immediately drawn to Santiago’s.

However, the extent of his traumatic past only became clear after he moved to their home in Malta.

“This boy missed a lot of love. His mum left, his dad passed away, he was taken away and cared for in a home,” he said.

“When he found security here, he pushed us to the limit, which is very normal. It’s like he’s always testing you to see if you’re going to send him back, because he doesn’t know any better.”

“He lost everyone he loved in the past, and when he settled down, his past started coming out. He never spoke to us about his mum or his dad, but after a few months he started telling us things and he only told them to us because he feels safe with us.”

After the initial hurdles, Santiago started integrating into the family.

“He calls me Dad and Manuel Papa, and he asks us how we slept every day. When he gets home from school, he wants to know how our day went.”

“He tells us he loves us every single day. He brings home drawings covered in hearts and thanks us for bringing him from Portugal. He’s such a caring boy.”

Steve said he doesn’t care if people pass judgement over the fact that two dads are raising a child.

“Santiago had the right to say that he doesn’t want to have two dads, but rather a mum and a dad,” he pointed out.

“He knew who we were, and he decided to have us as his dads. In all fairness, you will always be criticised and people will always pass comments, but at the end of the day, our life with our son is our business and quite frankly it doesn’t matter what people think.”

“I know what he’s been through, I know where he is today. Whether he had a mum, a dad, two mums or two dads is irrelevant.”

“He needs love, and because he has the love that he deserves – also thanks to his school, his carers and his LSE – he has really come a long way.”

Naturally, Steve’s and Manuel’s lives have changed dramatically since adopting Santiago. They are no longer as flexible when it comes to travel as they once were, and their relationship priorities have changed.

However, Steve wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Life used to be about what we wanted to do, and although we’ve lost that now, when we sit down as a family, it’s worth every bit of it,” he explained.

“If you had to ask me if I would rather be as I was or as I am now, I would tell you I would definitely rather be the way I am now.”

“We knew that we were going to have to sacrifice certain things but the love and the joy we have in our hearts is worth every bit of it.”