Grandma: ‘Don’t forget the kids’ hurt by heroin

The scourge of heroin addiction affecting the son they love, Monica and her husband, both in their 60s, have taken on the responsibility of raising their son’s four children in order to keep the family intact, especially at the holidays.

“These are the children of our family. That’s the legacy of your family, you don’t just let them be taken away from you because of bad decisions of their parents,” Monica said during a recent interview from her Pottstown-area home, adding it’s important to have the children together at the holidays. “And that they’re safe and that they’re OK.

“It’s not that you can give them everything and anything that they want, but it’s important they’re safe and they have a home and they have somebody that loves them and cares about them,” added Monica, reflecting on the true meaning of family and the season of giving.

In 2013, Monica explained, her son and his girlfriend, “got involved in heroin,” and their lives spiraled out of control. Monica’s son went to prison for a few years and while he was in jail the mother of their four children wasn’t able to care for them and “walked away,” Monica said.

That’s when Monica and her husband, after raising three children of their own, stepped in and acquired custody of their grandchildren.

“We’re doing the whole daily

routine with them, putting them through school and taking them to sports and counseling and doctor’s appointments. It’s all on my husband and me to do,” Monica said.

Monica recalled “the kids were in a bad way” and she and her husband had to fight for them.

“We had to fight to get them through the court and we eventually did,” Monica said, adding the children have been living with Monica and her husband for several years. “Now they’re in school and they’re more stable and they’re doing better.”

Some of the four children, ages 5 to 12, have received counseling because of “the things they’ve seen that they shouldn’t have seen” while their parents were enmeshed in the drug culture.

“There’s still counseling and there’s still issues of course. We just keep moving forward so that they can get through school and be able to take care of themselves, eventually, when we can’t,” said Monica, who remains positive and upbeat despite the family’s troubles.

In the years since her son’s drug problems surfaced, Monica said, the heroin epidemic has become the focus of national concern.

“They’re talking a lot now about the heroin crisis and how bad it is and how it ruins families. All of it is true and it is an epidemic,” Monica said. “But if I had a chance, I would say, ‘Don’t forget the kids and don’t forget the grandparents.’ I know that we’re not alone. There are a lot of grandparents that have had to step up.

“There are a lot of grandparents that are raising grandchildren because of this issue because the parents just don’t do it and either the kids wind up going into foster care or their grandparents take them,” Monica added. “Thankfully, my husband and I are not extremely elderly. We’re very fortunate that we’re not ill.”

Monica’s husband continues to work and she takes a seasonal job to help make ends meet. Finances are often stretched to the limit, especially at Christmastime.

“They’re just like any other kids - they want things like their friends. They see they’re friends doing things and they want to do those things,” Monica said. “And we want it to be normal for them, as normal as we can get it.

“Sometimes it does worry you. After you’ve maxed out your credit cards and you’ve spent everything that you can, then you have to retire. Who takes care of you then?” Monica pondered. “So, you just do the best that you can, that’s all.”

Monica shared her story with The Mercury to inspire those who can to give to the children of our community at this most appropriate time, the holidays.

Now in its 27th year, Operation Holiday has provided a brighter holiday season to thousands of families with children. Last year, more than $50,000 in donations allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 144 families with 447 children in need.

The program was created and exists for children. The mission of Operation Holiday is to ensure that children of the Pottstown area have food to eat and gifts to open, no matter how poor or difficult their family situation may be.

There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay in the Pottstown area. Families are referred by more than 20 local agencies and churches.

Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of The Mercury.

Food, which includes the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry, is ordered, bought, packed and distributed by Mercury employees and Pottstown High School student government volunteers.

Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies.

Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency in order to protect the integrity of the program.

Operation Holiday is funded solely by readers’ contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.

Contributions may be mailed or brought to the offices of The Mercury, Attn: Operation Holiday, 24 N. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Make checks payable to Operation Holiday.

Editor’s Note: The names of the people in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the families.