When Ahmee Needed Help, We Didn't Know Where to Turn
by Saydi, Ahmme’s great-aunt and caregiver
Five years ago, my husband and I received a call. Our newborn grandniece, Ahmee, had been left at the hospital, and they needed us to take her in.
We were already caring for her sister, and we worried about how we would make it work. But we agreed the girls should stay together and decided to take it one day at a time.
When Ahmee was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism, we knew she would need specialized care and support. It seems simple, right? A child with special needs deserves therapies and medical care to help them thrive. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that easy.
We tried to get Ahmee help, but we were denied at every turn. We hit wall after wall, and I knew the longer we waited, the more support she would need.
That’s when the Alliance for Children’s Rights stepped in.
The Alliance helped Ahmee begin physical and speech therapy. They helped me advocate for her educational rights. They helped me navigate systems that felt impossible to understand. They even helped finalize her adoption so we could become a forever family.
The Alliance took the pressure off of navigating the system, so I could take care of Ahmee.
Ahmee’s story is one of many examples of how having an advocate can change a family’s experience within the foster care system.
Every day, the Alliance helps children, youth, and families access critical support, overcome barriers, and move toward greater stability.
