Josh, Annabelle and Eddie

On January 2, 2008 it was thought to be just another intake on a cold evening. Bexar County needed emergency placement for three children described as being, “cold and dirty, in need of a safe place.” It was that night that St Jude’s Emergency Shelter welcomed Josh, Annabelle and Eddie.

Timid at first, the children were welcomed with open arms and smiles. They were in tattered clothing, infested with lice, had no shoes, and were said to have no verbal skills. The children were removed from their dilapidated home in San Antonio where they lived with six other children and three adults.  Sheets were draped over broken windows and boards leaned against others with the cold January air entering the home. Dirty mattresses littered the floor amongst trash, insects and rotting food. There were a few blankets but not sufficient enough for 12 people and an old stove was used in a seemingly desperate attempt to heat the home. The refrigerator was no longer working and the food was rotting. The water was shut off and so buckets of water were used and re-used for bathing and drinking.  And then add Mom’s drug addiction to the situation.

Four year old Annabelle was quiet and withdrawn upon arrival. Her hair was chopped to her ears and still crawling with lice. She was a thin child with big brown eyes and a nervous smile.  Overtime Annabelle’s personality emerged and she became full of life. She was beginning to talk, express herself without having tantrums and her love of anything pink and ‘girly’ was made abundantly clear! Annabelle could be seen on any given day adorned with accessories – sunglasses, hats, purses, shoes and jackets are her favorite things. She started school and speech therapy – and now is thriving at school and at the Shelter.  Her hair grew out, her self-esteem flourished and she is now a healthy five year old girl with an optimistic outlook on her new life.

Josh was also four years old when he arrived at the Shelter and was quiet in the beginning.  He was different than Annabelle in that he brought his personality forward within days! Josh’s verbal skills were delayed and without words to use, he did whatever he could to get his needs met, including being physically aggressive toward the staff and having hour-long tantrums.  It was challenging, but the staff and Josh pulled through. He learned his needs could be met with words that he learned through speech therapy.  His behavior changed – fewer, shorter outbursts, positive interactions with the other kids and going to bed on time. The now happy, playful Josh can be found sneaking around to tickle or scare you when you turned a corner!

Eddie, the youngest, arrived shy but not withdrawn. He is an active two year old keeping all staff on their toes!  With long hair and a lice infestation, it was a major task getting him to sit still to comb through the tangled mess.  Eddie attended early childhood intervention classes for language and learning – and in an environment structured with guidance and love, Eddie began to thrive.  He is liked by his peers and can make anyone laugh!  He loves cars, water play and just being silly. For his third birthday, Eddie got his very first cake and blew out the candles!

Within the five months the children resided at St. Jude’s Ranch their changes were dramatic.  Their language improved, they learned so many new things in school and all three children celebrated a birthday with us.   They came so far together and separating them was not an option. Thankfully with the Shelter’s ability to keep children for an extended period of time in circumstances such as these, the three children stayed together – as brothers and sisters should.