Video captures emotional moment a teenager asks her stepfather to adopt her for Christmas

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

A father has shared footage of the moment his 18-year-old stepdaughter asked him to adopt her on Christmas Eve.

Makayla Dabney made the decision to ask her stepfather Stephen, the man who raised her for 14 years, to become one of her legal guardians as his Christmas present.

The college student from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was inspired by a dream in which she asked him to adopt her.

“It was very memorable and exciting because I had something so big planned and only a few family members knew about it,” she told Fox8.

“I had a dream that I asked him to adopt me. My Christmas present to him was adoption papers.”

The touching moment was captured by another family member as Makayla told her father: “I’ve known you since I was five...you took me in as your own.”

Mr Dabney is then overcome with emotion as he opens a letter, carefully packaged in Christmas wrapping, containing adoption papers.

“I was wondering if you would adopt me. It’s long overdue. Changing my name and everything,” Makayla asks him.

The footage has since gone viral worldwide, racking up 130,000 views on Youtube.

One viewer commented on Makayla’s ”beautiful heart”, to which her father replied: “Thank you so very much you’re going to have to stop with the kind words or I’m going to end up crying again and that will ruin my strongman persona cheers.”

Another viewer said: “Congratulations, that has to be one of the best gifts you could ever get, Merry Christmas to you and your family.”