When Susan’s grandson came to stay with her, it was meant to be a visit.
Instead, it became the beginning of a completely different life.
After years of worrying about his wellbeing from afar, Susan suddenly found herself becoming the primary carer for a little boy with ADHD and the lasting impacts of trauma no child should ever have to bear. At a stage in life when she thought she might finally have the freedom to travel, slow down and focus on herself, everything changed overnight.
“My whole world now revolves around David,” Susan says.
Like many grandparents raising grandchildren, Susan stepped forward without hesitation. What she didn’t expect was the overwhelming complexity that would follow.
As he began to feel safe for the first time, years of trauma surfaced through anger, fear and emotional outbursts. Susan found herself navigating medical appointments, counselling sessions, school support, assessments and endless paperwork, all while trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.
“There were times I felt completely lost,” she recalls. “I knew he needed help, but I didn’t know where to turn.”
Living on a small fixed income, every unexpected expense became a source of stress. Winter bedding, school uniforms, electricity bills and everyday essentials quickly added up. While Susan was focused on helping her grandson heal, she was quietly carrying the weight of financial pressure alone.
Then a hospital social worker connected her with Sleapy’s Foundation. The support arrived at exactly the right moment.
Sleapy’s Foundation helped ease the immediate financial burden by assisting with essential household costs, winter bedding and clothing, allowing Susan to focus on what mattered most: helping her grandson feel safe, supported and loved.
“When everything felt like it was falling apart, you gave me a glimpse that things would work out,” Susan says. “It felt like I could finally breathe again.”
Today, life is still far from easy, but there is hope.
Her grandson is settling into school, building friendships and slowly learning that he is safe. The healing journey continues, but Susan can see progress in the small moments that once felt impossible.
For Susan, that’s all that matters.
Every day brings new challenges, but it also brings new reasons to keep going.
“When you’re in the middle of it, you just keep putting one foot in front of the other,” she says. “But having someone step in and help when you need it most can change everything. You didn’t make me feel like a number. You made me feel like a person.”
Thanks to supporters of Sleapy’s Foundation, families like Susan and David’s don’t have to face life’s toughest moments alone.
Note: To ensure the safety and privacy of the family, names and some identifying details have been changed.