Our real mom was using cracks while she was pregnant; she did not know that she was having twins. I came out first, and then doctors found my brother Tavon. We were very small, like 2 pounds, and tested for positive drugs. Social services intervened, and we remained in foster care until we were two, when the Woods family took us in.
Adoption did not give us happy ending. We experienced mistreatment, lack of affection, and were made sad by our adoptive family. Lost and confused, we made up stories because we did not know who our real or adoptive families were
I attempted suicide multiple times. I was totally broken like there was no hope left to be happy because of how we were treated, but I could never go through with it as I just did not want my brother to be alone around those people. By the age of eleven, we were already using tobacco and alcohol, and at the age of eighteen, we started selling drugs. We were still hunting for them inside, so we cored our pain with smoking, drinking and casual sex activity. We were destroyed
In the 2016s, our brother, who was seventeen years old, was shot, and he eventually died. Heartbroken, we moved to Georgia but got involved with gangs and danger. After that, a trip to the church solved everything. Only one visit to God’s house gave us peace, gave us relief from tension, gave us direction and started to heal our pain, and they showed us kind people who became like family to us.
After leaving street life, I held various positions. I met the Wilkinson family when I sold them a car. We talked, I shared my story, and then we became good friends. They took me in, providing the affection I had always desired. Currently, I celebrate holidays with them and cherish a caring family,
Showing that family is defined not by race or blood but about love and other efforts, how they motivate treat us.
God gave us our story so we can give hope to kids going through the same pain, the same thing that we do. I enjoy saying that I use to sell drugs, but now reading hope is my passion. We overcame pain and confusion to become a motivator.
After leaving life and starting grooming myself, I took on different jobs. While selling a car to the Wilkinson family, I shared my story, and we connected right away. They welcomed me, giving the love I had always desired. Now I start spending my holidays with them and loved them. That was my priority.
God granted us our story to provide hope to children facing what we went through. I frequently state, “I used to sell drugs, now I provide hope. We got we got though doubt and became loved by children. Children in foster care, feeling abandoned, need this understanding too. Without family, children are deprived of protection and support, rendering them susceptible to abuse or worse. Even as adults, they may face loneliness due to the lack of affection or relatives.
I and my brother Tom went to help kids by building a big a new house. We will not stay quiet while they face difficulties in an imperfect system. Hope for a better life is present, and we will strive to bring that hope to them.
