A dad who had always had a different name from his biological son cried tears of joy when the 14-year-old finally asked if he could share his name. Martin White, 31, was not in his now-wife Alejandra's life when she gave birth to their son, Julian, which meant that Julian took Alejandra's last name at the time. Martin and Alejandra put their differences at the time down to being confused young parents, and they eventually married shortly after Julian's birth, staying together for the past 13 years. During that time, Martin raised Julian – whose last name was Reyes – like any other father, and ahead of Father's Day, Julian told his mom that he want to surprise his dad by taking his last name. At their family home in Midland, Texas, on June 17, Martin sat on the couch while Julian presented his dad with a gift. Alejandra had printed out the court documents and filled them in, while Julian had penned his father an emotional letter. As Martin read through the documents, he began to sob at the gesture.
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🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00 That one's from Julian.
00:01 This dad never thought he'd receive this gift.
00:08 It all started when he met his wife Alejandra in high school.
00:12 We became pregnant with Julian.
00:14 During his birth is what I miss,
00:17 'cause I was just being, you know,
00:19 I was just a kid, you know, myself.
00:22 I was nervous.
00:23 But ever since after that, I was there.
00:26 I, you know, got myself together,
00:28 realizing I had to take care of my son.
00:30 And I've never left their side.
00:32 They've never left my side.
00:33 And I wouldn't change it for the world.
00:37 14-year-old Julian wouldn't change it for the world either.
00:42 He's the one who taught me how to be a man,
00:45 because I, like I said, I was a kid whenever I had him.
00:47 So he pushed me into becoming a man
00:52 that had to take care of his family.
00:54 So it started with him.
00:56 He's saying that I just changed his life, really.
01:01 I believe he didn't change mine as well.
01:05 So he decided he wanted to share his dad's last name too.
01:09 I feel like it would be a nice way
01:11 to show my love towards my dad.
01:13 That one's from Julian.
01:15 No, don't.
01:15 Here you go, there you go.
01:18 You're just a wuss, though.
01:19 There you go.
01:20 (laughing)
01:22 You're a wuss.
01:23 You're a wuss.
01:24 (laughing)
01:25 You're the best dad on earth.
01:27 Thank God for you.
01:28 (laughing)
01:30 Hey dad, I just wanted to say how much I love you.
01:41 You're amazing.
01:42 The best father to all your kids.
01:44 Dad, I will always love you.
01:46 You are so great.
01:47 Dad, I don't know what I would do without you.
01:50 You made me the man I am today.
01:54 I'd be so happy to have you last name.
01:58 So I changed my name to show you how important you are to me.
02:01 I'm trying to make you as proud as I am as proud of you.
02:05 I love you.
02:08 Happy Father's Day.
02:09 Julian Red.
02:10 I was crying like a little baby in the video,
02:13 but it was tears of joy
02:16 'cause that's all I've ever wanted
02:18 is for him to have my name too, so.
02:22 (laughing)
02:24 It was something I couldn't explain.
02:33 I just, that's a feeling that I could never explain.
02:36 It just, you just have to live it to actually feel it.
02:40 So, I mean, it was just amazing.
02:44 And the next thing is like the letter to the judge.
02:47 Your Honor, my name is Julian Red.
02:49 My dad, Martin White, has raised me all of my life
02:52 and has taught me everything I know.
02:55 He has been the best example of a boy I can remember,
02:58 which is why I would love to surprise him
03:00 for Father's Day.
03:03 Shut up, Mark.
03:03 Like I didn't even ask him, that's in my,
03:06 please allow my name to officially be Julian Red.
03:09 It's why I would really appreciate it.
03:11 I felt pretty happy 'cause like,
03:14 it was a special moment getting my name changed to his.
03:19 No, I'm just, I'm happy.
03:20 It makes me feel like the family's complete.
03:23 So we all carry the name and it just makes me feel
03:27 really good that he's gonna carry my last name,
03:30 you know, and continue the family
03:32 with the last name that we have.
03:34 'Cause we don't got much of us as a family.
03:37 I don't got many cousins and other family members.
03:41 So, you know, just to have somebody, you know,
03:44 my son to have that name carried on,
03:46 it's a special thing for me.