Every adoption story is unique in it's own special way. And for Hannah Robinson of New Brunswick, it was adopting her half-brother T.J. who transformed her from a big sister to 'mom'. Robinson has shared her and T.J.'s endearing story on Instagram, which included an emotional surprise trip to Disney World to surprise him a year after the adoption.
"I adopted my little brother a year ago who had been in foster care almost his whole life, and now we're just healing childhood trauma together," she wrote in the caption.
In the video, Robinson is in the car with T.J. after picking him up from school when she says to him, "You and I are going to the airport right now to go to Disney World." T.J. cannot believe it, and responds, "No we're not." But Robinson doubles down. "Our bags are all packed–we're going straight there!" she says. T.J. lets out a giddy scream, and the video continues with a heartwarming montage of their time there–which included lots of rides, treats, and more.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Robinson shared that she was a 19-year-old college student when T.J. was born in 2017. (They share the same father.) His parents were struggling with addiction issues, and he was placed in foster care. At that time, she knew she wanted to adopt T.J.–but knew the legal process would take years. She added that she had "a wonderful, wonderful mother, and if I hadn't, I don't know where I would've been, but I felt I was meant to be that for him."
Robinson was dating her high school sweetheart (and future husband), Drew Munn–when Robinson asked if he was on board to adopt T.J. together. He was. The process took longer than expected. "It didn’t feel like it was going to happen," she told the publication. But after much perseverance, T.J. moved in with the engaged couple on Oct. 5, 2022. T.J. played a big role in the couple's wedding in October 2023. "Every time he calls us mom or dad, it just feels so, so special,” she said.
Robinson also shared that T.J. is proud the fact that his sister also his mom, noting that he tells people, "'She’s my mom and she’s my sister,' and he thinks that's wonderful. He thinks it just doubles the amount we’re related and how much we love each other."
Robinson and Munn welcomed their first biological child together, Hazen Charlie, in October 2024--making T.J. a big brother. Robinson shared in another Instagram post that T.J. told her, "'I’m sorry Hannah I love you a lot, I just love the baby a lot … more.' I’m so relieved with how he’s been handling this transition🥲 I will happily sit in spot number 2."
Munn told PEOPLE, "T.J. has brought so much joy into our lives. We’re so excited to keep growing together."
Robinson created a GoFundMe account for T.J. for "whatever he needs to have the brightest future possible (therapy, college, summer camps, sports etc.)."
