Erica and Anthony Testimonial
I first met Erica while working as the Director of the Student Parent Program at El Dorado High School in Placentia. She was a 12-year-old 8th grader who was transferred to our High School Program when she became pregnant. The father of her child was in a gang and had been sent to jail for murder shortly after she became pregnant.
On top of being pregnant at such a young age, Erica’s home situation was incredibly chaotic. Erica was the 3rd child of a single mother. Her mother had 2 sons and 2 daughters all from different men. Erica’s older brothers were in and out of jail and were both eventually deported. She had a younger sister, Daisy, whom she completely parented. Erica began taking freshman classes and fit in well with the student population. Erica’s mother moved the girls often, and on May 7th we lost track of her when she simply disappeared. We didn’t know it at the time, but Erica’s water broke and she took herself to the hospital. Erica’s son, Anthony was born that day, 13 weeks early. |
Anthony and Erica from Judith Linnan on Vimeo. |
Her mother called her a slut and went on a 2-day drinking binge. Erica spent the next 2 ½ months taking the bus to the hospital to visit Anthony in the Neonatal Unit.
Erica returned to our Program in the fall bringing Anthony, recently out of the hospital. I immediately noticed that the staff saw Anthony to be ‘a sweet baby’. This translated into Anthony requiring very little attention as he never fussed, never cried, never actually connected. I began taking videos to follow his progress.
Our Program was set up to give the regular students an opportunity to earn child development credits by spending a period a day working with our children. I selected special students to work with Anthony. Two of the students were males and athletes. I had them play with Anthony very actively. They became devoted to Anthony, but Anthony continued to ignore everyone including his young mother. Erica continued to work with me to help Anthony but she was becoming frustrated.
She had had no healthy parenting and was learning to parent for the first time. I had her read Rudolph Driekers’ Children, The Challenge among other books. She attended my groups with the other young mothers and received excellent guidance from the Child Care Workers.
Anthony continued his pattern of Autistic like behaviors regardless of the various treatments. When Anthony was almost 7 months old, we had a complete breakthrough. It was luckily caught on tape.
Anthony is now 16 yrs. old and attends regular high school. Erica is 29 and is currently working as a Behavioral Health Specialist with the Orange Co. Jail, and is continuing to pursue a career in nursing. She has recently purchased her first home and is in the process of remodeling it. She has a 10 yr. old son, Brian. She is engaged and planning a wedding next June. Anthony’s father remains in jail for murder.
I feel very fortunate to continue to have both of these wonderful people in my life.
Erica returned to our Program in the fall bringing Anthony, recently out of the hospital. I immediately noticed that the staff saw Anthony to be ‘a sweet baby’. This translated into Anthony requiring very little attention as he never fussed, never cried, never actually connected. I began taking videos to follow his progress.
Our Program was set up to give the regular students an opportunity to earn child development credits by spending a period a day working with our children. I selected special students to work with Anthony. Two of the students were males and athletes. I had them play with Anthony very actively. They became devoted to Anthony, but Anthony continued to ignore everyone including his young mother. Erica continued to work with me to help Anthony but she was becoming frustrated.
She had had no healthy parenting and was learning to parent for the first time. I had her read Rudolph Driekers’ Children, The Challenge among other books. She attended my groups with the other young mothers and received excellent guidance from the Child Care Workers.
Anthony continued his pattern of Autistic like behaviors regardless of the various treatments. When Anthony was almost 7 months old, we had a complete breakthrough. It was luckily caught on tape.
Anthony is now 16 yrs. old and attends regular high school. Erica is 29 and is currently working as a Behavioral Health Specialist with the Orange Co. Jail, and is continuing to pursue a career in nursing. She has recently purchased her first home and is in the process of remodeling it. She has a 10 yr. old son, Brian. She is engaged and planning a wedding next June. Anthony’s father remains in jail for murder.
I feel very fortunate to continue to have both of these wonderful people in my life.