Deciding to adopt a child is an undertaking that is very rewarding but requires love, responsibility, and maturity. Families who have gone through the adoption process know that sometimes it can be a tedious road fraught with red tape, emotional rollercoasters, and learning curves.

But that doesn’t stop some parents from fostering or adopting children. Ms. Ingebord McIntosh has fostered over 120 children in her lifetime. Out of the many kids that the Arizona family has loved and taken in, Jordan was one of the babies who landed in their home.

From birth, Ingebord was smitten with the little boy, loving him as her own. While his biological mother was seeking to have him placed with a family of the same ethnicity, Jordan continued to stay in the McIntosh home. During those years, no family was found who would take him, and it seemed fated that the baby boy was meant to stay exactly where he was.

When Jordan was four years old, he was officially adopted and Ingebord became his mom! That was over two decades ago and nothing could have prepared her for what was to come.

By 2014, she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, and it was so advanced that she needed a kidney transplant.

Jordan, who was in his mid-twenties, secretly went and got tested to find out if he’d be a suitable donor for his mom. Not only was he a match, but this also worked out to be the ultimate Mother’s Day gift for Ingebord. But as moms are prone to do, she didn’t want to her son to make a sacrifice on her behalf.

Although she told her loving son that he didn’t need to do it, he insisted. In an interview with Tucson News, Jordan spoke on why he made his choice:

“Everything she’s done for me since I was a kid, I just wanted to give it back to her, and show her how much I appreciate her.”

It seems as if these two were meant to be in each other’s lives for more than one reason, and the unconditional love shown by both is something that goes way beyond biological ties. And to think, Jordan is one of the many children whose life was touched by Ingebord. What are the odds?

Though each woman has her own reasons for giving her child up for adoption, those kids who fall under the wings of parents like Ingebord McIntosh can still find happiness. Parent-child relationships aren’t always perfect, but at least these two can serve as inspiration for the rest of us.

Watch this video to hear more about why Jordan chose to donate his kidney. As grateful as he is for having her as a mother, she feels equally lucky and loved with him in her life. Now, who’s inspired to give their parents a thank-you gift?

What do you think about this inspirational mother-son story? Do you know any families like the McIntoshes who have taken in over 100 children? Do you know any kids who grew up to give their parents a huge payback gift?