“It all started when my daughter, who was living with me at the time, had an incident with the children’s father,” Debra recalls. “It frightened her, and we had to get Child Protective Services involved. They referred me to Edgewood, and that’s where our journey began.”

At the time, Debra was living in South San Francisco. “Through Edgewood, I received so much support. They guided me through the guardianship process, connected me to counseling, and included us in family events. It really made me feel like I wasn’t alone.”

That support proved invaluable when Debra later moved to San Francisco and continued caring for her grandchildren full time. Both Dreama and Derek-Steve’s mother lives with a mental health condition that makes it difficult for her to provide stable care. “She was in agreement with the guardianship,” Debra explains. “She knew it was what was best for the kids.”

Building Stability and a Sense of Belonging

Debra has cared for her grandchildren since they were babies. “Dreama is nine now, and Derek-Steve is ten,” she smiles. “When they first came to live with me, they were disorganized and anxious. There were a lot of mixed signals between my daughter’s parenting and mine. But once I became their legal guardian, everything changed.”

One of the first differences Debra noticed was in her granddaughter’s development. “Dreama didn’t even start walking until about 15 months old,” she says. “But after the guardianship, they both started thriving. I could finally take them to the doctor, make sure they had regular checkups, and get them the care they needed.”

Both children also began therapy. “My grandson still sees his therapist, Jeremy, at Edgewood. We also have family therapy together. It’s mainly to help support Derek-Steve, but it helps all of us.”

Finding Strength as a Caregiver

As any grandparent raising grandchildren knows, the road isn’t easy. Debra credits Edgewood for giving her tools and respite to sustain her through the tough moments. “I’ll never forget my first therapist at Edgewood in South San Francisco,” she says. “She was so young, I thought, ‘What can this girl teach me?’ But she was incredible. She taught me to listen to myself, to journal, and to take at least an hour a day just for me. That made a huge difference, especially with everything I was handling at the time.”

Edgewood also provided much-needed respite care, giving Debra moments to rest and recharge while her grandchildren enjoyed fun and enriching experiences. “They went on outings with an activities coordinator, to the pumpkin patch, Disney on Ice, the Discovery Museum, even Pier 39,” Debra recalls. “It gave me a break, but more importantly, it gave them joy.”

A Family Rooted in Love

When asked what they love most about living with Grandma, Dreama doesn’t hesitate: “She loves me,” she says with a grin. “She takes me places, so I’m not home all day on my iPad, and she tells me to get off it sometimes, too, or else I’d be blind!” Derek-Steve adds, “She feeds me, takes me to school, and to karate. She does good things for me.”

Their laughter fills the room, proof of the stability and affection they’ve found in their grandmother’s care.

Although their mother remains part of their lives, visits are limited. “She’s homeless right now,” Debra says quietly. “Sometimes we see her at McDonald’s. I hope one day she’ll be able to get the help she needs and be medically compliant, so she can have more time with the kids. That’s my prayer.”

Hope, Healing, and the Edgewood Difference

Looking back, Debra says she can’t imagine doing this without Edgewood’s support. “From therapy to family activities to respite care, they’ve been there every step of the way,” she says. “They helped me take care of my grandkids, but they also helped me take care of myself.”

For others considering guardianship or kinship care, she offers this advice: “Do your research, talk to people, and make an informed decision. Whether it’s guardianship, fostering, or adoption, each person’s path is different. But if you lead with love and surround yourself with support, it’s worth it.”

Because of Edgewood, and because of Debra’s unwavering love, Dreama and Derek-Steve have a safe, nurturing home where they can grow, learn, and just be kids.