October 28, 2021

Isabella still remembers every detail of the day her parents died. She was in fifth grade, sitting at her desk completing a math worksheet, when her teacher took her out of class to go to the principal’s office. The distressed look on her teacher’s face as she walked her down the hallway is still etched in her brain.

Isabella was taken to a room where her grandparents, the principal, and the school social worker were waiting. Her grandfather told her that her parents had died in a car accident that morning. And after receiving the terrible news, as her grandparents gently took her from school to bring her home, Isabella knew one thing for sure: she was now an orphan.

The months following her parents’ death were full of changes. After the funeral, Isabella moved in with her grandparents. She knew she should feel lucky. Her grandmother and grandfather were some of the most caring people she knew. They did everything they could to make sure she had everything she needed.

But the reality of the situation was that nothing was the same. Her grandparents lived outside her old school district, so she had to change schools. And when she saw other kids with their parents, Isabella couldn’t help but feel a pang in her stomach, knowing she would never have that again.

As the years went by, Isabella thought she would start to feel better about the loss of her parents. But instead, she felt worse. Over time, nothing seemed to matter. She stopped hanging out with her friends, stopped trying hard in school. She fought with her grandparents, whom she felt didn’t understand her. She could feel parts of herself fading away, but she was powerless to stop it.

Isabella’s grandparents were regularly called to her school to meet with her teacher and the principal about her poor grades, her refusal to participate in class, and her ambivalent attitude towards her education. But her grandparents spoke very little English, and Isabella didn’t know how to express all the emotions she was experiencing, anyway.

Finally, Isabella’s grandparents realized that she needed more help than they could provide. They knew about Mercy Home through their local parish and decided to investigate further. After an informational meeting, they felt that our Home could be a way for Isabella to get back on track.

When her grandparents asked if she would be interested in living at Mercy Home, Isabella just shrugged. If anything, she was indifferent. But when her grandmother began to cry, explaining how worried she was and how difficult this had been, Isabella realized how bad things had gotten.

She agreed to give Mercy Home a chance. But it wasn’t easy. During her therapy sessions, Isabella had no idea what to say at first. She had always been good at not talking. She definitely didn’t want to share anything in group therapy either.

But over time, Isabella felt more empowered to share her story. There was some relief in letting things out, she realized. And she participated in family therapy with her grandparents. It really helped clear up the pain and misunderstandings between them, and her grandparents also received good advice to help their relationship with Isabella in the future.

Mercy Home also helped Isabella catch up in school. She worked with a tutor to improve her grades and learn how to study properly, as well as organize her schoolwork. She’s even starting to think about going to college.

When Isabella looks back on the hopelessness she experienced growing up, she feels grateful that Mercy Home helped her find a new path. With the tools and supportive friends it made possible, her future is bright.