Want to Read the Story That Inspired Us?
Read on to learn more about Annie and her siblings.
My name is Annie and I am 21 years old. I have been raising my six siblings, Franky (15), Johnny (14), Evelin (11), Kristen (8), Jorge (6), and Andy (2) for the last three years because my mom is in prison. This is a piece of my history – a picture of my childhood.
My mom has been in and out of jail due to drugs for as long I can remember. The first time she was incarcerated was in 2000. I was ten years old. We went to live at my aunt’s home, but she was neglectful and unconcerned for us. Often, she would sleep until one o’clock in the afternoon. This meant that we wouldn’t be fed until she was ready to get up. To make matters worse, my aunt’s boyfriend made me uncomfortable. One night I felt threatened and I went to my aunt for help. She didn’t believe me. After that incident, my brothers and sisters, and I went to stay with another aunt in Anaheim. After a year and a half in jail, my mom was released and we were returned to her.
Living with my mom wasn’t easy. Often, when I came home from school she would make me clean the apartment. If she thought the rooms weren’t sufficiently cleaned up to her standard I would have to clean them all over again. As punishment, she would physically abuse me. I was punched, slapped, kicked, and hit with hangers and wires. I never saw her beat my younger siblings, just me. We weren’t allowed to leave the apartment. It was my responsibility to take care of my brothers and sisters. I was their mom.
My dad was never around. I didn’t have much of a relationship with him.
After my second brother, Johnny was born his father would beat my mother. I remember watching him sit on top of my mom, holding a knife over her while she frantically tried to block his stabs. My brothers and I would cry and scream for him to stop. Memories like this are branded in my mind forever.
When I was thirteen years old my mom kicked me out of the house.
We fought about my friends and I was tired of putting up with her abuse. I moved in with my friend, Stephanie, and her family for a few months.
Not long after, I met my boyfriend, Eli. He wanted to help care for me and his family offered to take me in. I moved into his home at age thirteen and remained there until I was seventeen.
The second time my mom was incarcerated was 2006. It was my fifteenth birthday. I was visiting my mom and siblings when the police showed up. Again. They knocked down our door. I saw them hit our parents. We had no idea why they were in our house. The police yelled at us to get down on the ground. My little brothers and sisters were crying, including my newborn brother, Jorge, who was only three months old. We were terrified and confused.
My brothers and sisters went to live with my aunt again and I continued to stay with Eli and his family.
At fifteen years old I became pregnant. At sixteen I gave birth to my daughter, Samantha. I had severe morning sickness for the first six months of the pregnancy and wasn’t able to go to school. I never returned. When Samantha was three months old I started to work part-time at Togo’s.
Though my mom was let out of prison during this time she was deported to Mexico. My brothers and sisters were sent to Arizona to live with a family friend, Blanca, because my aunt could no longer care for them. Blanca took in my brothers and sisters for a year and a half. During that time my relationship with Eli ended. When I was seventeen I moved in with my aunt. I shared a room with my cousin and continued to work and take care of my daughter.
When my mom returned from Mexico Blanca returned my siblings to her. But she was arrested again in 2009 and gave birth to my youngest brother Andy, from behind prison walls. The prison hospital contacted me and I went to bring home my new baby brother. I have had physical custody of Andy since he was two days old and my hope is to adopt him.
I have been the primary caregiver of my brothers and sisters since 2009. We have all struggled. At one point, I was renting one room in a two-bedroom apartment. We all shared that little space. We had no privacy and we were constantly sick, which had never happened before.
At that time I was going to Continuation School. Eventually, I couldn’t continue my classes because I no longer had child care.
My goal is to receive my high school diploma and go to school to become a Medical Assistant. Currently, I am five units away from receiving my high school diploma, but I need childcare for the 3 younger kids who are not in school. I do not have a job at this time but I want to find employment. I am anxious to achieve my high school diploma and start a career so I can better provide for my family.
I met my case manager from Ezrah’s Hands in December of 2010. We have been working together for many months and she helped me find a suitable home. My siblings and I were so overwhelmed when we moved into our new house! I believe it is a miracle from God. Our case manager has helped us so much and continues to offer us their support.
Today, I continue to care for my brothers and sisters and attend school part-time when the younger kids are in preschool. Things are still hard but everyone has helped us so much I know God is looking out for us.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.