January 22, 2026
When Judah came to Mercy Home a year ago, it wasn’t a decision he took seriously.
In the months prior to his arrival, he had skipped school for weeks at a time, gotten kicked out of the house, and run away from home. He was constantly looking for an adventure and was not always honest about what he was up to.
“I agreed to move to Mercy Home because I wanted to be away from home,” he said. “I didn’t think it would actually help me.”
Judah’s mother died when he was three or four years old, and his dad has been out of the picture for most of his life. His aunt and uncle adopted him and his sister, and now he calls them his parents. But growing up, Judah struggled to unpack a lot of the trauma he experienced as a child.
Chantal Davison, his first advocate at Mercy Home, said that when he moved in, he would only joke around and didn’t take his treatment program seriously.
“He would persuade you to do things for him to get his needs met instead of taking the harder route,” she said.
But after a few weeks, Judah began to change. He started attending a new school and learned how to structure his week, improve his time management, practice self-care, and learn life skills like cooking. His basketball talents have also grown, thanks to the time he has spent playing with friends in Mercy Home’s gymnasium.
“I have learned to do the right thing even if nobody is watching and even if there is no benefit for me to do it,” he said. “I have also learned about being a leader and being someone that people trust and can count on. Program staff tells me that I have a strong influence over others, and I want to use that for good.”
Every week, Judah and his peers have group therapy at Mercy Home. Together, they discuss communication, integrity, and teamwork.
“I like socializing and being around individuals who are committed to their personal growth by being at Mercy,” Judah said. “Even though they sometimes drive me crazy, they also make me laugh. I don’t think I’d mind having a bunch of roommates in the future.”
His favorite experiences at Mercy Home include trips to Six Flags and the beach. He also enjoys celebrating holidays here, particularly Christmas. A fond memory is building a gingerbread house with another young man in his living program.
Since coming to Mercy Home, his grades have improved, and he is taking two AP classes. But he’s also thriving outside of school. He tried out for the school’s basketball team, serves as a traffic guard, and is a member of the debate club. And at home, he’s slowly regaining trust with his parents.
Last October, Judah was chosen to represent our young people at the Mercy Home marathon team’s annual pasta dinner. He gave a speech to more than 300 people about his experiences and his hopes for the future. His reflections were received with a standing ovation from the crowd.
“I was so proud of him,” said Lexi Angelo-Romes, a staff member who works closely with Juday. “Some things he wouldn’t even talk about when he came here and now he’s able to do that in front of people he doesn’t even know. He’s really proud of his story and that’s huge for someone his age.”
Judah wants to graduate from high school and go to college or a trade school. After that, he plans to get a job in computer science, engineering, or cybersecurity.
“I know Mercy Home will always support me in achieving my goals,” he said.
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