"When are you taking me home?"
Those were the first words out of my son Brandon’s mouth when Milo and I looked up at him. My heart melted into a pile of goop as I told him, "Soon, baby, soon. We’re looking at houses every day, trying to find a landlord who will accept us." Paying the rent would not be the problem, but every place we apply to turns us away because of the three-times-income requirement.
No matter how hard things get, I try not to let Brandon see that struggle. During our visit, I called my brother on Facebook so Brandon could greet the whole family. My dad especially lit up seeing his boy again. His health has not been the best, and after Brandon was taken, he started declining even more. But now Grandpa smiles again, proudly talking about how Brandon showed off the deck-shuffling tricks a roommate taught him.
Last week was heartbreaking. Brandon spent an entire week sitting in a hard chair facing the wall as punishment for being a "bad boy." They make him do his own laundry, and seeing an 11-year-old autistic child trying to navigate all of this alone shattered me. He even got in trouble for politely asking what to do because another child’s laundry was still in the dryer.
This week was a little better because he was finally allowed to spend time with the other kids. They look out for each other the way friends do, and that gave me some comfort. But every few minutes he would ask about going home, and every time he did, it felt like another tiny hole was carved into my heart.
Right now, all we need is a stable home so Brandon can come back where he belongs. Addie, Milo, and our family have been searching nonstop for a place for us, but over and over we are turned away because our income falls just short of the three-times-rent requirement. We are so close, yet it keeps slipping through our fingers.
We are asking for help to bring Brandon home. Donations will help us secure stable housing and cover the costs that come with finally getting settled again. If you cannot donate, please share this fundraiser and help spread the word. Every share, every prayer, and every act of kindness gives us one more chance to reunite our family.
Thank you for reading our story, and thank you for believing that Brandon deserves to come home.
