July 24, 2024
Xavier’s parents weren’t very strict. But they always had one rule: Xavier and his older brother were not allowed to go outside after dark. No matter how old they got, their parents never loosened up about this rule—for a very good reason.
The neighborhood where Xavier’s family lived was not a safe one. Gang members controlled the streets. And when it got dark out, the violence always seemed to escalate. Xavier’s parents knew that it was all too easy for an innocent bystander to become a target when gunshots rang out.
But when Xavier’s brother started high school, he started to push back against his parents’ rules. Many of his friends were allowed to stay out late. He started sneaking out of the house to join them and hang out.
This frightened Xavier. His parents always said that it wasn’t safe to be out after dark. One night, he heard his brother trying to sneak out the front door. He ran after him, hoping that he could talk his brother out of leaving the house.
“I thought I could stop him…but I was too late,” Xavier said.
By the time Xavier made it to the front door, his brother was already across the street. As Xavier stepped onto the porch to call out to him, he heard gunshots ring out. And his brother crumpled to the ground. Just like that, Xavier’s brother was dead.
Xavier doesn’t remember much after this. He knows he started screaming for his parents. He remembers the flashing lights of the police cars and ambulance as they arrived. And he knows his mother screamed. The rest was a blur.
The next couple weeks were a blur, too. Xavier’s parents were completely lost in their grief. During the funeral, they were both inconsolable. That didn’t change after, either. To Xavier, it felt like they forgot they had another son, especially one who witnessed his brother’s murder.
“I know they were sad, but I was sad, too,” Xavier said. “But they didn’t have time to talk to me about it.”
Just a couple weeks later, Xavier started eighth grade. Only 13 years old, he wasn’t equipped to deal with his grief. It was too hard to for him to focus on his schoolwork. His friends didn’t know what to say to him, so they avoided him instead. Xavier never felt so alone.
u0022I know they were sad, but I was sad, too. But they didn’t have time to talk to me about it.u0022
– Xavier
To take his mind off things, Xavier began to go to the local park to shoot hoops. Basketball seemed like the only thing that could distract him from all the pain he was feeling. Soon, he began skipping school so that he could spend more time playing.
“I knew I shouldn’t skip school, but the only thing that made me feel better was playing basketball,” Xavier said.
But eventually, Xavier’s absences started to affect his grades. They dropped so dramatically that he was in danger of not graduating elementary school. When Xavier’s principal reached out his parents, they were shocked to discover that he had been skipping school for weeks. They immediately knew that he needed more support than they were able to give him.
Xavier’s mom reached out to friends at their church to see if anybody knew of any resources that could help Xavier. Through them, she heard about Mercy Home. After getting more information and attending an informational session with Xavier, the whole family agreed it would be the best place for him.
Once he moved in, Xavier immediately began working with an education resources coordinator to come up with a plan to get caught up in school.
“I was scared to come to Mercy Home, but it seemed like the only place that could help me,” Xavier said.
Once he moved in, Xavier immediately began working with an education resources coordinator to come up with a plan to get caught up in school. We also set him up with tutors so that he had support when he was doing his homework and studying for tests.
Xavier was surprised at how quickly he grades improved once he began attending school again and getting his work done. He even received an award for “most improved” among all the eighth graders in his school. When he starts high school this fall, he knows he will be successful, thanks to the support he is receiving here.
And Xavier’s therapist was a key part in healing Xavier’s whole family. She was always there to listen and provide guidance as he grieved the loss of his brother. Mercy Home also provided resources for his parents, as well as family counseling so they could all deal with their grief in a healthy way.
“I know now that it’s okay to be sad about my brother,” Xavier said. “I don’t have to be afraid of feeling bad about it. I learned that at Mercy Home. And one day, I will be able to think of my brother without it hurting so much.”
Xavier’s life was at a crossroads before coming to Mercy Home. But thanks to the support he has received, things have changed for the better. Now, he has a bright future to look forward to.
It is because of generous friends like you, we are able to provide the support and resource kids like Xavier need. Thank you for caring about our kids!
Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.
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