Devin & Preston Verling

In 2020, Devin began her studies at Virginia Tech, pursuing a degree in Animal Sciences. It was her first time away from home, and she arrived with nothing but courage and her beloved service dog, Gideon, by her side. Navigating college life was tough from the start—her roommates brought unnecessary drama, and Devin often felt like she didn’t quite belong. Still, she tried to make the best of it, even participating in their “beach-themed” dorm idea by buying a blow-up flamingo from Dollar General. That silly flamingo became the reason she knocked on the door across the hall, asking a cute blonde stranger for help inflating it because of her “asthma.” That stranger was Preston.

From the moment they met, something clicked. After a game of Uno, failed flirting attempts, and a lot of laughter, they exchanged numbers. Devin began texting Preston every night and, not long after, inviting him on casual outings. Even Gideon, who was usually reserved, took a surprising liking to Preston—often sneaking out to lie on his couch, soaking up attention and watching basketball. Their bond grew quickly, even through the trials of the pandemic. Skype calls, emotional check-ins, and moments of vulnerability drew them closer. On October 26th, 2020, Preston asked Devin to be his girlfriend, calling her his “first and last.”

As their love grew, so did their family. They rescued Gizmo, a puppy Devin found on the side of the highway, and later added another, Grim, from a foster situation. Eventually, they’d foster dozens of dogs, cats, and even two opossums—Preston never flinched. He supported Devin’s boundless heart and tireless efforts to help every soul in need, human or animal. Their home was filled with fur, laughter, and the kind of chaotic love that can only come from shared purpose and mutual respect.

In 2023, after graduating college and moving to Fort Worth, Texas, they settled into their new life together. It was here, after years of love and healing, they began trying for a baby. But as the months passed and doctor visits piled up, they were faced with the heartbreaking truth: Devin’s PCOS diagnosis, which had been manageable for years, was now standing squarely between them and the child they so desperately wanted. Four years of trying to conceive, fertility treatments, hormone injections, endless bloodwork, and constant heartbreak took a toll—financially, emotionally, and physically.

Still, they never gave up on the dream of becoming parents. Through it all, they clung to the love they’d built and the resilience they had forged in fire. And in that perseverance, they found something beautiful: the path to adoption. Adoption became not a second choice, but a deeply meaningful one. It was a way to take all the love they had built and pour it into a child who needed them just as much as they needed that child. They were no longer just seeking to create a family—they were opening their hearts to find one.

Thank you for following along on this wild and beautiful journey we get to call life

Love, Preston, Devin, Grimmy, Gizmo, Gideon, & Stuart