Forever Hopeful: Irma’s Journey

ArrivingAtHHMy name is Irma and this is my story. When I was 9, my two younger sisters and I were living with our aunt. She didn’t take very good care of us. I didn’t know where our parents were; all I knew was that I needed to help my sisters.

I remember the day that everything changed. I was holding my baby sister and my other little sister by her hand as we walked down a road. Suddenly, a policeman came up to me and asked where our parents were. I was scared to talk to him. I showed him where we were living. He asked my aunt some questions. I don’t know what my aunt told the policeman, but he realized that our aunt couldn’t take care of us so he took us away from her. I was very scared as the policeman took us to Hannah’s Hope.

I wasn’t sure what they were going to do to us, but a lady named Hollen was really nice. She gave my sisters a bath and gave us food. They also cut our hair because we had really bad head lice. The people were really nice and helped clean us up.

For a while, I would cry myself to sleep because I wanted my parents to come back for us. Hannah’s Hope was really big and nice compared to what we were living in before. It was hard because I spoke another language before I came to Hannah’s Hope, but I soon learned how to speak Spanish there. When we went to Hannah’s Hope there weren’t a lot of kids. Every day I became more used to living at Hannah’s Hope, and more kids came. It got to the point where they had to separate us: the babies in one house and the bigger kids in another. I loved going to the babies’ house because I got to see my baby sister and play with other babies. I also liked playing with the other kids and making friends.

The Special Mothers would help us with our colors, letters, and numbers. We did dancing, singing and other fun things. The moms were really nice and helped us with anything we needed and comforted us when we were sad. My favorite memory at Hannah’s Hope was when we celebrated my birthday with the Special Moms and my friends. I thought it was the coolest thing ever because I had never had a birthday party before. I got a Barney piñata, a baby doll, a cake, and a few other toys. I loved everything I got.

When I heard we were going to be adopted I was excited because we were going to be together! However, at the same time I was scared because I was going to a different country and a new family.

Irma TodayToday, I am 24 years old and newly married to a wonderful man. Life has been a challenge but having the people I love in my life and having God on my side has helped me get through everything. I thank my birth parents for bringing me into this world, and I thank my adoptive parents for bringing me to this country. I want to share with all children that no matter what challenge you face in life, know that God loves you so very much. He will give you the people who will be there for you and love you. Don’t give up. God has a plan for each one of us. I know God placed my sisters and me in Hannah’s Hope because He loved us so very much.

 

You can help other children like Irma receive the loving care that every child deserves with a Gift of Hope to support orphan care at Hannah’s Hope. Learn how you can make a difference in our Forever Hopeful Giving Guide.