Kinship Care Story: A Grandmother's Love Helped Max Thrive

Names have been changed to protect the family's privacy.

Max faced challenges from the very beginning of his life. Born to parents struggling with substance use, he arrived with a club foot diagnosis and spent his first week of life in the hospital experiencing withdrawal symptoms. In the years that followed, he endured multiple surgeries, casts, specialized footwear, and treatment for a chronic skin condition.

Despite these obstacles, Max was a happy child. But when he was four years old, everything changed.

After both of his parents relapsed, Max’s grandmother, Linda, began receiving calls from his school because no one could reach his parents. As she learned more about what was happening in Max’s life, she realized he was living in an unsafe and unstable environment.

Determined to protect her grandson, Linda took action. She hired an attorney, filed for emergency custody, and picked Max up from school. He has lived with her ever since.

"When he first came to live with us, he was traumatized," Linda shared. "His skin condition was extreme, and his foot had turned back because it hadn't been cared for properly. He was in fight-or-flight and in severe need of love and attention."

Over the next two years, Linda dedicated herself to helping Max heal. There were multiple trips to Boston for medical appointments, physical therapy, specialized shoe inserts, and a nighttime boot to support his foot. While his skin condition remains active, it is now manageable.

Today, Max is thriving in kindergarten. He plays baseball, basketball, and soccer, and continues to grow stronger every day. Like many children who have experienced trauma, he still faces challenges. He struggles at times with emotional regulation, has difficulty making friends, sleeps with the light on, and feels uncomfortable in rooms with closed doors. He also misses his parents and asks questions as he gets older.

Through it all, Linda is doing everything she can to provide stability, support, and unconditional love. "This is certainly not where I expected to be in my 50s," she said. "But I'm sure glad that I can be here for him."

This summer, Step Up Parents was honored to help Max attend several weeks of camp, giving him the opportunity to simply be a kid: to play, make memories, build friendships, and enjoy new experiences alongside his peers.

"Thanks to Step Up Parents, he is able to attend a few weeks of summer camp this year and simply enjoy being a kid again," Linda shared. "Step Up Parents gave him a chance to have fun, make memories, and feel included with his peers. We are forever grateful for your kindness and generosity."

For kinship caregivers like Linda, stepping in often means taking on unexpected financial and emotional responsibilities. With the support of donors and community partners, Step Up Parents helps ensure that children like Max have access to the opportunities, experiences, and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive.