Mariah’s Story

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Her mother might greet her with open arms when she stepped off the bus. Or, Mariah might walk in the house to find her mother delirious from drugs.

The lights might have been shut off because of unpaid bills. Or, she might sit down to watch after-school TV only to be interrupted by the sound of gunshots nearby.

Sometimes her father would dote on her. Other times, he would leave the house during a fight with her mother and not turn up for weeks.

Mariah wasn’t the only one having trouble dealing with the household strife. Her brother developed mental health problems, and he began coping with them through drugs.

Even through all of this, Mariah was determined to keep her cool. She was worried what would happen if she didn’t.

But finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. One night her parents’ fighting became so bad that her mother ended up in the hospital.

The next day, Mariah talked to a teacher about her options. One of them was Mercy Home, so Mariah visited and immediately felt at home.

She realized she would be safe at Mercy Home, and that she could find the tools to heal from the violence and instability that had marred her life until then.

With Mercy Home’s help, she has found a stable environment. Now that she feels safe, she has been able to concentrate on her schoolwork and on creative interests. Her grades have improved, and she has spent her free time learning to play piano, painting, and writing poetry—all activities that improve her mental health.

She is excited about all the progress she has made while here—and looks forward to continuing to make great strides in her schoolwork now that she has a safe place to call Home.