Without Lighthouse, I don’t know where we’d be. Now, I have hope for my son’s future – and my own. – Evan’s* mum
Before we found Lighthouse, life felt impossible. I was a young, single mum with a baby who needed more than I could give. I had no stable place to live, no support, and I was still trying to recover from the trauma of everything I’d been through, including trafficking and severe abuse. I was struggling with my own mental health, and parenting 24/7 felt unmanageable. There were moments when I seriously considered giving Evan up, because I thought he’d be better off without me.
Lighthouse changed everything. For almost two years, we’ve been living together in a Lighthouse home through their Young Parents Program. It is the first time I’ve felt truly safe. Evan is now three, and he’s mostly a happy, energetic little boy who keeps me on my toes. He has some health issues, including kidney disease, so he needs regular hospital visits and medication. The carers at Lighthouse have helped me manage every appointment and every treatment. They make sure that his health is stable and he is getting the care he needs.
But it’s about more than just medical support. Evan’s made friends with the other toddlers in the house – and they’ve grown so close they seem like siblings. Being around them has helped his speech and social skills and, even though he still has developmental delays, he’s absolutely thriving. His favourite thing in the world is trucks; he can name every type! A major milestone was when he moved into his “big boy bed” in his own room, right next door to mine. It was a big step for both of us and he was so proud. It reminded me how far we’ve come.
Now, we’re preparing to move into our own place; just the two of us. We’ll still stay close to Lighthouse and come back for family dinners and support. They’ve become our community, and we’ll always be part of the Lighthouse family.
*Name changed for privacy. From his mum’s perspective.
