Callie and Jack

Jack and Callie arrived at the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children Emergency Shelter in early June. Unlike many new arrivals these two were excited, giggly and bouncing off the walls!! There was no trace of caution or concern with either of them; in fact the friendly two and three year old settled very nicely into their bedroom.  They began to bond with staff, befriend their peers and share their wonderful character with anyone who would give them a moment….

This case was a first time removal. Mom was sent to jail on drug warrants in San Angelo and the children had nowhere to go. With no family, the children were sent to St. Jude’s Ranch because there was a close sibling in San Antonio . Only weeks later, Mom was released from jail and immediately moved to Uvalde where she and her boyfriend purchased a home and set a plan in motion to get their children back. In the past five months, per their state caseworker, Mom has come a very long way. She is holding down two jobs, working on all the requirements she needs to meet as set forth by the court, calls the children twice weekly, attends her monthly visits, is appropriate with the children and has remained clean and sober.

Though it will take several months, Callie and Jack are expected to rejoin their mother. Both children are patient and seem understanding of their situation, even at their young age. It’s almost like they know what she is doing to turn her life around for them and they recognize her new behaviors. In addition, Callie and Jack each have some new behaviors of their own! Three and four years old, respectively, Callie and Jack have achieved many developmental milestones.

Both attend speech therapy weekly because of significant difficulties with language delays. They are becoming easier to understand, talk rather than whine or point, and they can sing any nursery rhyme ever written! Jack can count, spell his name and is working on learning the alphabet. Callie also recognizes her name, knows all her colors and will count in Spanish…only along with Dora of course! Both are still easy going, energetic, giggly children with plenty of love to give.

On many occasions their mother has praised the Shelter staff for the wonderful job they do daily with her children. She will call just to talk to a Supervisor and tell them how blessed she feels to have her children at St. Jude’s Ranch. At one point their mother had to convince a judge not to move the children into foster care, stating she felt they were at the best place they could be… She seems very proud of the shelter staff and thankful for all they have given her children.

Callie and Jack are expected to stay until they can go home to Mom sometime early next year. It will be the longest stay of any child at the shelter thus far, and they will be dearly missed.