My journey has been one of extreme endurance. I was first placed in a mental institution at 4 years old. At the age of 7, I was kidnapped—a trauma that is documented alongside my history in the system. I spent the next 32 years—until the age of 36—in and out of institutions, fighting for my stability and my mind.

In 1994, my life was shattered by a tragedy in Fells Point, Baltimore, that was documented and aired on Channel 2 News. When my wife at the time and I separated, she intentionally hid my children and her location from me, running away to keep me from finding them. It was while she was in hiding with them that my two-year-old daughter, Alicia, was strangled and starved to death.

Following the police investigation and trial, Porthingia Johnson received a 40-year prison sentence for her crimes and has been locked up ever since. During that same time, the weight of losing my daughter led me to Springfield Hospital Center, where I spent two and a half years in the mental health facility fighting to regain my stability and my mind.

I fought my way back through those dark years to become a professional caretaker, but tragedy has recently returned to our doorstep. On March 1, 2026, my daughter Tynika Diane Johnson was killed in a car accident. We held her Homegoing Celebration on March 27, 2026. She left behind nine children, including one-year-old twins.

I am working every hour I can as a caretaker to provide, but we are currently trapped. My partner, Diane, and I are doing everything we can to hold this household together, but because we do not have a vehicle large enough to transport everyone, my 16-year-old granddaughter, Jada, is currently forced to stay home from school. While I am at work, Jada has to stay back to care for the two 1-year-old twins and the other young children because we have no way to get everyone where they need to go.

My 72-year-old mother is too old to manage two active one-year-olds on her own, and with no one else to watch them, the burden falls entirely on Jada. On top of that, my mother cannot keep dealing with the physical strain of trying to fit nine children into a space not meant for them. We are currently forced to have children sitting on each other's laps, which is unsafe and causes constant cramping and distress.

Jada is losing her education because we lack transportation and childcare support. I have identified a specific 2005 Ford Excursion that is large and safe enough for our entire family. I am seeking $15,000 to purchase this vehicle, cover the taxes and tags, and get my granddaughter back into the classroom where she belongs.

I am looking for this vehicle locally in or near West Baltimore. If there is a dealership or a donor in the Baltimore area who can facilitate this purchase directly, I would be eternally grateful. I have survived 53 years of fire, kidnapping, and the loss of two daughters. I am asking for the tools to protect the nine lives Tynika left behind.

This is why I am turning to Modest Needs. Thank you for your support.