At 61 years old, Deborah never expected to be raising four grandchildren. But through faith, resilience, and the support of organizations like Step Up Parents, she has built a life of love and stability for her family during some of their most difficult times.

Deborah's life has been marked by hardship. As the eldest of five children growing up in poverty, she learned early how to carry the weight of responsibility. After the tragic loss of her brother and the challenges of an early marriage, she found herself navigating single motherhood. Later, she remarried, only to face her husband's Parkinson’s diagnosis just three years into their marriage.

But the most defining chapter of Deborah's story began when tragedy struck again: her daughter-in-law was killed by a drunk driver, and her son—battling addiction and mental health struggles—was unable to care for their five children. In the midst of grieving, Deborah and her husband stepped in. When her husband passed away not long after, Deborah officially adopted the children. They were just 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years old.

“Without God, we would have had no food or shelter,” Deborah says. Her faith guided her every step of the way, including a critical decision to buy a small home outright rather than take on a mortgage—a choice that later helped her keep a roof over their heads.

Even with a stable home, raising four children on a fixed Social Security income brought financial challenges. Due to policy limitations, Deborah was unable to receive food assistance despite her low income. Thanks to local food pantries, supportive friends and family, and the help of organizations like Step Up Parents, she was able to keep the household going.

Step Up Parents helped Deborah with essentials like food, gas, and utility bills—an important boost during an especially tough time.

“Being only one of me has had its challenges,” she shared. “We have always gotten by, but since COVID, it's been harder every month. Your support meant more than you know.”

Deborah also made the courageous decision to homeschool some of the children and enroll others in her church's school, recognizing that traditional public school was not meeting their emotional needs. Today, she beams with pride as she shares their accomplishments:

L, now 20, graduated with honors and spent a year in college.
T, 18, recently graduated, is a certified firefighter, and works alongside his father.
B, a high school junior, is on the honor roll and plays soccer and basketball.
A, homeschooled, is musically talented and recently joined the Youth Worship Team.
G, also homeschooled, has a deep love of animals and dreams of more horseback riding lessons.

“We help each other,” Deborah says. “The girls pitch in with the housework and animals—our two dogs, a rooster, chickens, and rabbits.” Their household is one full of teamwork, hope, and love.

While the financial strain continues, Deborah counts her blessings daily. “The love I receive from all nine of my grandchildren is enough to carry me onto my next journey.”

To those walking a similar path, she offers this wisdom: “Hopefully, one day, the system will change so that those who step up for children won’t have to choose between feeding them and paying the bills. But until then, I pray and I trust.”

Step Up Parents is honored to have played a small part in Deborah journey. Her story is a testament to the power of kinship care, community support, and unconditional love.

Kinship Care Story: Deborah's Journey of Faith, Family, and Resilience