Tommy Connolly was just like any other college student. He spent his time studying, training to become a champion sprinter, working part-time, and hanging out with his friends.
But on one fateful day, all of that changed, and he suddenly found himself becoming both a father and then a grandfather 7 days after.
Tommy didn't even think twice about helping his cousin
Tommy received a Facebook message from his 17-year-old cousin asking him for help. He shared that they haven't been in touch for a while, and that his cousin battled addiction as well as problems in her home. She was also pregnant, homeless, and had dropped out of school. Out of her desperation, she attempted to reach out to her cousin.
Once he heard the news from his cousin, he didn't even think twice about helping his cousin. He picked up her and brought her home, and legally adopted her so that she would be able to keep her baby and to help her stay off the streets. He then became a 'father' to his cousin.
A week later, Tommy's cousin gave birth, and he became a 'grandfather'.
His cousin is now doing well for herself
So here's the story.. Just to update some of my mates. A few months ago I picked up my younger cousin, Kiarna. I hadn't seen her for over 10 years. She'd just turned 17, she was 32 weeks pregnant, homeless, no shoes, no phone, with less than a backpack full of clothes. Her baby was going to be taken when it arrived, as she's had a lifetime of instability and bad history, most likely due to the traumatic childhood. The "boy friend" is in prison. I took her in, to make sure she'd keep the baby, stay off the streets and have a better life. This was her only option. Life dealt Kiarna a poor hand, and she's had to play it best she could. She's spent more time on the streets than anywhere else, and knows the police better than she knows her own family. She could write the book on traumatic experiences. Not many people know her story. It's very intense. Nobody deserves the life she's had. I've spent the last few months working, moving houses, having meetings with different departments, signing forms, being assessed and monitored, chasing funds, setting up her bank accounts, buying baby stuff, furniture, going to hospital/doctor appointments, and getting her settled in. Glad to finally say she's now living in a safe, stable, awesome house on the Sunshine Coast with a brand new bed, and brand new life... away from drugs, violence, and drama. I got her a kitten too! She's just passed her learners drivers license test and I'm teaching her to drive a manual, and also booked her in to get braces for her teeth next month. She has plenty of clothes, she's improving her reading and writing, and she's motivated to get the education that she never had... But most importantly she's just given birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy named Kaydan. She's the toughest girl I know!! All she wants is for him to have a better life than she's had. There's still a long way to go, but things are on track and she has the opportunity she deserves. When bad things happen, it's your family that supports you.. It means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I've had my family pull my head out of the gutter before... It was time to pay it forward. Family comes first ✌️
A post shared by Tommy Connolly (@tommy.connolly) on
In an Instagram post, Tommy shared her cousin's story, "She's spent more time on the streets than anywhere else, and knows the police better than she knows her own family. She could write the book on traumatic experiences."
"Glad to finally say she's now living in a safe, stable, awesome house ... with a brand new bed, and brand new life. She just passed her learners drivers license test ... and also book(ed) her in to get braces for her teeth next month."
With Tommy's help, she's now well on her way to turning her life around, and her son was born healthy and is doing well.
It's so amazing to learn that Tommy, who's a young college student, didn't even think twice about helping his cousin when she came to him in her time of need.
Sources: familyshare.com, wimp.com
READ: 5 Things that parents of happy kids always prioritize
*This article was first published on The Asianparent Philippines
