July 24, 2024

On the street where Eric grew up, the flashing blue lights of police cars were a common sight. Neighborhood violence was just part of everyday life.

Eric’s parents always did their best to protect Eric and his brother. His mother was especially strict with them, but even she couldn’t protect them from every possibility. And that became clear just a few weeks before Eric was set to begin his senior year of high school.

In the late summer evenings, it was common for the teenage boys to meet up at the local park to play basketball and hang out. Both Eric and his brother often went there after dinner and stayed as late as they possibly could. As summer break dwindled, they pushed their curfew more and more, knowing that their evenings would soon be consumed with homework and after-school activities.

“One night, we stayed at the park a little too late,” Eric remembered. “Different kids started coming by, kids we didn’t know. I got a bad feeling and told my brother we should leave.”

But before Eric and his brother could head home, gunshots rang out. Eric saw his brother fall down. He saw the blood spreading from under his abdomen. But it took a moment for Eric to understand what was happening. His brother was dying.

The blue lights shone bright at the park that night. And the air was filled with the screams of Eric’s parents. His brother hadn’t been the target of the gang members who were exchanging gunfire. He wasn’t even in a gang. But that hadn’t saved him. Eric’s brother was still gone.

The days following were a blur. The wake, the funeral, the interviews with police officers–it was all too much for Eric. He was filled with guilt and regret. His parents were like zombies. He felt incredibly alone, with nobody to turn to.

When school started a few weeks later, Eric found it nearly impossible to be there. His teachers and his classmates all gave him pitying looks. He felt like everyone was staring at him. And it was hard to even care about school. His brother was gone. What else mattered?

Eric began skipping school as much as possible. He would leave the house in the morning like he was going to school, but would instead wander the neighborhood. He didn’t have a plan most days.

“I was really just looking for something to distract me from all the sadness I was feeling,” Eric said. “Everything reminded me of my brother, and I couldn’t handle it.”

But Eric’s absences began to affect his standing at school. He was failing most of his classes, and his guidance counselor warned him that he would not graduate if he didn’t start attending class and doing his homework. Even that couldn’t shake Eric from the black hole of grief he was experiencing.

Eric’s parents had been checked out of his life for a few months before they heard about how far behind Eric was at school. They immediately recognized that their son needed support beyond what they were capable of providing them. Eric’s mother worried that without a good education and a career path for the future, Eric would fall in with the wrong crowd.

Eric’s parents sought support from their church community. That was where they first heard about Mercy Home. His parents immediately thought that this would be the best place for Eric, and he agreed. He was desperate for anything to help him escape the constant swirl of negative feelings that kept him stagnant.

As soon as Eric moved into Mercy Home, he was matched with an education resource coordinator and tutors who could help him get back on track in school.

“I thought once they saw how far behind I was, they would give up on me,” Eric said. “But nobody ever did. They just kept helping me turn things around.”

With a set study schedule in place and help with homework, Eric’s grades slowly began to rise. He got back on track to graduate, and even received an award for “Most Improved Student.” He’s now applying to colleges and no longer feels hopeless about his future.

But the biggest difference Mercy Home made in Eric’s life was his therapist. She provided him with the support and resources he needed to grieve and begin to heal from the loss of his brother. Our Home also provided family counseling and support to Eric’s parents, who were also in desperate need of healing.

“I’ll never stop thinking about or missing my brother,” Eric said. “But I’ve learned healthier ways to remember him and deal with how much it hurts that he’s gone.”

Just months ago, Eric thought he would never feel happiness again. But now, thanks to the support he received at Mercy Home and from friends like you, he has hope for the future again. Thank you for caring about our kids!

Education gives our kids the opportunity to build a brighter future. Your gift will help them get there.

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.