At 22, I was freshly single, taking a belly dancing class with friends when I spotted a flyer for co-ed volleyball. I’d loved the sport in high school, so I signed up. That’s where I met A’Jay. At first, we were just teammates, then friends, then something more.
Life moved quickly. In 2009, during a casual night at home, my best friend insisted I take a pregnancy test. I was 23, living with roommates, and had only been dating A’Jay for a few months. The test came back positive. I was scared, yet I had faith that everything would turn out fine.
The months ahead were anything but easy. Addiction began creeping into our lives first as small red flags, then as glaring warnings. I tried to hold the pieces together, keeping the truth hidden from most people. IIn June 2010, our child Kayden was delivered.
I believed his presence would create balance,
but the drinking and drug use worsened. We married in 2011, and soon after, I found myself in a cycle of sleepless nights, missing keys and wallets, and constant worry.
In 2012, we welcomed our second son, Kameron. But the years that followed were filled with broken promises, debt, and disappearing acts. A move to West Texas brought temporary relief, but addiction followed. After five years of chaos, I gave him a choice: rehab or leaving. He walked away.
Becoming a single mom was overwhelming. My boys were confused and heartbroken, and I was navigating grief, anger, and survival all at once. He reached out occasionally, but never stayed. By 2016, it was just the three of us growing, healing, and slowly rebuilding.
In 2018, I felt a pull to foster children. My boys were all in, so we started training. Our first placement two young brothers stayed for nine months before reunifying with their family. Saying goodbye was heartbreaking, but it taught us resilience.
Then came the call for a 14-year-old boy. At first, I hesitated. But after a weekend visit, we knew he belonged with us. On February 26, 2020, he moved in, and on May 21, 2021, we became his forever family.
We didn’t plan this journey. We’ve stumbled, learned, and grown through every stage. I didn’t give birth to him, but I’m his mom. Our story began in heartbreak but ended in hope proof that families can be built from love, not just blood.
