I grew up in a drug infested neighborhood. My mother was a single parent of nine children. She did the best she could do for us. However, she was disabled by rheumatoid arthritis. By the time I was 13, my mother could no longer walk and was confined to a wheelchair.

All of my older siblings had moved out of the house. The responsibility of caring for my mother had fallen on me, even though I was the youngest. At age 15 my brother was shot and killed in the projects where he lived. He died just a few days before Christmas. Our holidays were never the same after that. I saw how much it broke my mother’s heart, and I vowed I would never use drugs.

I am so thankful I had a mother who loved me. She never abused us. When I think of her I remember someone who did anything she could for us. My mother was my greatest supporter. I did all I could to make her proud of me, but after my brother died, I was hurt and I became rebellious.

I quit school and would leave home for days at a time. I was reported for being truant, and I came to the Youth Ranch to complete my probation. During the time I was at HCYR, I was able to be a teenager without all of the other responsibilities I had at home.

I ran track at Tom Moore High. I also played basketball and volleyball. I was an A-B student and a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I learned to believe in myself and to appreciate my family. For the first time I believed I could go to college, and I dreamed of becoming a police officer. I learned to love myself and to love others who were different than me.

After graduation from high school, I joined the army, where I spent four years and earned money for college. After the army I went to school to become a medical assistant and worked as a phlebotomist for four years. I went to college and received my certifications as an EMT Basic and EMT Intermediate. I later attended Alamo Area Law Enforcement Academy and worked as a police officer and correctional officer for several years.

In 2001 my mother died from complications of Alzheimer’s. Then, my sister passed away from Hepatitis. My older brother later committed suicide. Again I was hurt and lost. After suffering so much loss I turned to God for healing and comfort.

I prayed about coming home to the Youth Ranch and to my family here. I surrendered my life to God and became a Christian. God put a calling in my heart to work with children. I couldn’t think of any place better than the Youth Ranch. I have so much love and respect for Gary and Carol and for the work they do here. I believe God has a special place for those who love His children. God has truly brought me home to my family.