As toddlers, Evan and his younger brother were placed in Child Crisis Arizona’s Emergency Children’s Shelter after suffering unimaginable abuse and neglect. After being placed in several foster homes, they were back in the care of Child Crisis Arizona when they met Marge.
“It was there, we felt we won the lottery when the shelter staff introduced us to our new ‘parents,’” said Evan as he looks back on the day he and his brother first met their new foster family.
Marge saw right away the bond that Evan and his brother had and decided to welcome the boys into their home. As the protective older brother, Evan felt it was his responsibility to take care of his brother. Marge assured him that no harm would come to either of them; they were safe, and Evan could be a kid again.
“At the time, my younger self did not fully understand...how incredibly lucky I was to be adopted at the ‘old’ age of seven,” said Evan.
Marge not only adopted Evan and his brother but also adopted their younger biological sister. She recognized how important it was to keep these siblings together.
As Evan grew older and faced the challenges of adolescence, the trauma he had experienced as a young child created moments of anger, self-doubt, and frustration.
“I have had to deal with memories of the horrible things done to me,” Evan said.
Wanting to do everything she could to help Evan heal, Marge turned to Child Crisis Arizona for guidance. Evan received counseling services at Child Crisis Arizona that helped him navigate those difficult years.
“The counseling they provided and the coping skills taught, helped me through an especially difficult time in my life,” said Evan. “I continue to use these valuable skills to handle stress in my life today.”
While the trauma Evan faced will always be with him, he does not let that define him. With the support of his family, Evan is now a remarkable young man. He graduated from high school with a 4.35 GPA and is enjoying success as a college freshman in an honors program. He’s working as an intern and shares his inspirational story of courage and triumph at events.
“I discovered that it is important to focus on the positives in life and be grateful for your many blessings,” said Evan. “I have deep gratitude for the role Child Crisis Arizona played in bringing my family together. Without them, I am uncertain where I would be today or if my siblings and I would even be together.”
