Stepfather Cries After Daughter Takes His Last Name as Birthday Gift

A man in Oregon, USA was brought to tears on his birthday after his stepdaughter gave him the gift of taking his last name.

Giselle Santoyo shared video of the moment on Twitter on November 8, 2018. “My greatest gift in life is you being my dad. Our goal was for you to adopt me before I turned 18, but it was too late. Here I am with your gift, I changed my last name for you. I love you forever, happy birthday?? I am legally Giselle Marie Santoyo,” she tweeted.

Giselle’s dad, Alfredo Santoyo, can be seen opening the gift and looking at what appears to be a frame, before breaking down in tears. According to Giselle’s Twitter, it contained the legal document that shows Giselle's name change.

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My greatest gift in life is you being my dad. Our goal was for you to adopt me before I turned 18, but it was too late. Here I am with your gift, I changed my last name for you. I love you forever, happy birthday?? I am legally Giselle Marie Santoyo?????????? pic.twitter.com/lf8UqDjfeh

— ????????? (@gisellmarii) November 9, 2018

In an interview with KGW8, a television station in Portland, Oregon, Giselle shares that Alfredo helped raise her since she was 5 months old. “He taught me how to walk, ride my bike, drive,” said Giselle. “He’s really been there for every step… every moment in my life.”

She adds, “I wanted this [the name change] and I know he’s wanted this.”

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“It was just amazing,” said Alfredo. “Thinking and knowing she made that decision on her own.”

He says, “She’s always been my daughter. That’s one thing I’ve always said.”

Credit: Giselle Santoyo via Storyful

Planning to adopt? Click here for updated guidelines from the DSWD.

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