I Took My Nephew From a Shelter After His Mother Abandoned Him—Fifteen Years Later, He Held Her Life in His Hands

the spines with reverence. He checked out six books—all about human biology and medicine, all far above his grade level. That night I found him in his room, reading by the lamp on his nightstand, completely absorbed.

“Bedtime soon,” I reminded him gently.

“Can I finish this chapter?” he asked, still not looking up. “It’s about how the heart pumps blood continue reading …