Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Christmas will be merry and bright for a single mom and her four children.
Following nine months of separation, the family has been reunited - just in time to decorate the tree and hang Christmas stockings.
The biggest present under the tree comes from an anonymous donor. The 31-year-old mom was given a 2011 Kia Soul by a good Samaritan in Granbury Thursday morning.
Since March, Susan (not her real name) has relied on friends and borrowed vehicles for transportation. She’s found rides back and forth to work and to pick up the children for scheduled visitations.
“Now she’s got a way to get around and take the kids back and forth to school,” the donor said.
That includes basketball practice at 5:30 a.m. for her oldest son.
The vehicle transfer was facilitated through Mission Granbury.
“I don’t want any credit for the car, I just want to inspire others who have a vehicle they could donate to someone in need,” he said. Susan’s scheduled visitation last weekend turned into a real homecoming when she learned the children were home to stay. The children, three boys - 12, 11 and 8, and a girl, 5, were taken into state custody in March and placed in foster care. Susan said there was “a lot of stuff going on with my daughter’s dad, and we both were using drugs” when the children were removed by Child Protective Services. “It was horrible, just horrible,” Susan said of the separation from her children. Susan followed her court-ordered program, including drug classes, parenting classes and counseling. “We talked about things like setting boundaries, transitioning and setting rules,” she stated. She found a job and leased an apartment, also required by the court. “She did so well,” said the family’s CASA Jeannie Humphrey. CASA stands for court-appointed special advocate. “I am super excited for them to be together again,” a smiling Humphrey said. During the separation period, Humphrey was in contact with all the parties involved, including Susan, the children, CPS, attorneys, the foster parents, and those providing therapy, schooling and medical care. “The kids did well in the foster facility, and they are so polite,” Humphrey said. “They are active in school and make good grades.” For the first two months and a week, Susan had no contact with her children. “It was bad,” she said. Weekly phone calls were later implemented, and she had a two-hour visitation every two weeks. “We would go to the park or go bowling, or other fun things,” Susan said of her time with the kids. As time went on, the visitations increased to days instead of hours and she was in touch with the foster parents through daily text messages. Susan found employment with a construction company. “I don’t really like it, but it pays better than retail,” she said. She moved into an apartment in May. It’s the first time she’s lived by herself. “This is a story about how the system is supposed to work,” said executive director Dusti Scovel at Mission Granbury. “There were problems in the home. The children were removed. The mother followed the rehab program she was given. Now the kids are back with their mom.” It’s been a year of change for Susan and her family, complete with a happy ending. “I came here with not much more than some clothes. Now I have a job, an apartment, furniture and my kids. And I’m getting a car!” Susan said. “I see it all as a fresh start in a new city.”
dschneider@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 255
