A few years ago, Leoncis and Samuel received a phone call that is every parent’s nightmare: their three young grandchildren had been severely abused and were in the hospital. José was in a coma and not expected to survive. Leoncis and Samuel had been raising their paternal grandchildren, José, Emilio and Mona since birth because their parents were in and out of jail and unable to properly care for them. However, after a messy custody battle, the children were transferred to their maternal grandmother.

After only a few short weeks out of their loving care, the young children were hospitalized for terrible abuse – the boys, ages three and two, had suffered head traumas from being repeatedly slammed on the ground and were burned all over their bodies. Leoncis immediately arrived at the hospital, where she lived day and night until José awoke from his coma after six weeks. José, a once thriving and healthy three year-old, was now brain-damaged, in a wheel chair, and learning everything from scratch. In addition to the bruises and burns, little Emilio had stopped speaking and eating, effects of a severe case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

All the children finally returned home to Leoncis and Samuel, who were also raising three young children of their own. The grandparents, who are very low-income, were obviously overwhelmed, as now they had six children under ten in a two-bedroom apartment, two with very special needs due to the horrific abuse they suffered. Despite the circumstances and their fierce commitment to the kids’ care and recovery, the family could find no help. First, the grandparents tried to gain back legal custody of the kids in order to protect them, with no success. Furthermore, in order to properly care for the kids, they needed services – therapy, medical specialists, training, specialized equipment, increased funding – the list goes on. But nobody would answer their calls.

The Alliance worked with this incredible family for three years to get their lives on track. Our dedicated team of advocates helped them find more suitable housing for the expanded family, worked to get the boys in specialized school programs, helped find specialists and therapists, and obtained increased funding so that they could provide for six children. After two years of constant advocacy and trouble-shooting, The Alliance completed the adoption of José, Mona, and Emilio by their grandparents. It was one of the most special and emotional adoptions we’ve had the privilege to witness. This family has a long journey ahead of them, but at least now they have the security and peace of mind of knowing that they’ll be on it together.