One Train Ride at a Time: A Father and Son Story

Walter received news 16 months ago that no father ever wants to hear: his then six-year-old son, Anthony, who was living with his mother in Chicago, had been removed from her care and placed in the child welfare system.

More than 140 miles away in Bloomington, Illinois, Walter made a decision that would change both of their lives. He was determined to do whatever it took to gain custody of his beloved son.

And so, the journey toward becoming Anthony’s full-time dad began.

“As soon as Anthony was put into the system, I got to work,” Walter recalled. “About 95% of the legwork I did myself, from finding a bigger place to live to completing my assessments and attending parenting classes.”

Meanwhile, Anthony joined One Family Illinois and settled into a nurturing temporary home with professional foster parent Ms. Gabby.

There, Anthony received the care, stability, and support he needed during an emotionally challenging time. The support of his foster family and care team allowed him to focus on being a kid while the adults in his life worked toward a brighter future with his father.

Walter and Anthony stayed connected through several phone calls each week and in-person visits every two months. Walter even helped Anthony with his homework over the phone, which Ms. Gabby shared was very helpful, adding, “I think we made a good team.”

“It was a struggle living so far away, being on disability, and having limited funds to see Anthony as often as I wanted,” Walter said. But those challenges never stopped him from making the trip. For every scheduled visit, he boarded an Amtrak train and traveled from Bloomington to Chicago to spend time with his son.

As the work toward achieving custody progressed and unsupervised overnight visits were approved, Anthony began accompanying his dad on train trips back to Bloomington. There, Walter’s friends welcomed him with open arms.

“Anthony has a big following down in Bloomington!” Walter said proudly.

Many of those supporters are members of Walter’s Music Bingo community. When Anthony arrived for an extended visit, nearly 70 friends gathered to celebrate him. Walter also made the most of their time together, taking Anthony to the zoo, museums, and local parks.

“Everyone is so nice there,” Anthony said on the day he and his father boarded the train back to Bloomington for good.

The move came just in time for Anthony to enroll in third grade at his new school and begin the next chapter of his life with his dad.

“There is nothing more rewarding than seeing one of my kids reunited with their family,” said Ms. Gabby.

Tattooed on Walter’s right forearm are the words Live ’n Learn. He says he got the tattoo because “I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned not to repeat them.”

Today, those words carry an even deeper meaning. After working tirelessly to rebuild his life and reunite with his son, Walter continues to learn and grow every day, striving to be the best father he can be.

For more information about One Family Illinois, contact Communications Director Kathy Wolf at kwolf@onefamilyillinois.org.

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