Kathy: The six-year-old who is breathing easier
A spunky Pippi Longstocking sort of personality, Kathy is a six-year-old with big blue eyes who rarely sits still — unless, of course, she’s focused on a very important drawing. She thrives on discovering found treasures, thrilled for instance to collect a little pink feather she spied on the sidewalk. She starts out shy but if she decides you’re okay, there is no stopping her.
These days, the world definitely is Kathy’s oyster, which is how it ought to be for six-year-olds. But not long ago, the world offered Kathy a very tough shell to crack.
Only 17 when Kathy was born, her mother later suffered a serious car accident, which led to a series of surgeries and a string of prescription pain medication. Nightmares ate up the mom’s sleep while pain ate up her days, which left little time or space for Kathy. The mom needed help.
That’s when Kathy’s grandmother moved in. Peggy, who looks too young to be a grandmother and too old to have a child of six, became nurse, mom and live-in grandma, all within 24 hours. The challenges of three people living in a tiny space turned even more complicated when Kathy was diagnosed with asthma, and their apartment building was considered too unhealthy for her.
Peggy agreed to move with her daughter and granddaughter and they soon found a place in Lee with reasonable rent, close to where Peggy worked and within walking distance of a great school for Kathy. There was just one seemingly insurmountable hurdle: the $235 security deposit. They didn’t have any extra cash after paying rent and other expenses.
Word of mouth led Peggy to Construct. We gave Peggy a grant that covered the deposit and today, she and her granddaughter are happily living in a safe and healthy home. Peggy’s daughter is on the road to recovery and mother and daughter are rebuilding their relationship. Kathy is well and happy.
That bit of help from Construct turned the corner on the family’s overwhelming present to build a path to a thriving future.
