Shawnna remembers the exhaustion most. Her newborn son, Havick, cried constantly. He struggled with colic, recurring ear infections and difficulty digesting formula. Sleep came in short bursts, often only 30 minutes at a time. Days blurred together in a fog of worry and uncertainty.
“His infancy wasn’t rainbows and joy like it should have been,” Shawnna said. “I felt lost and damaged and barely present in my own life.”
At the time, life had already been shifting beneath her feet. She welcomed Havick in 2016 while her husband balanced school, a new career path and multiple jobs to keep their family afloat. Then, shortly after Havick’s difficult birth and NICU stay, Shawnna lost her job. She went from being a full-time working mom who felt like she had her life together to struggling with severe postpartum depression and anxiety.
Finding Light in the Darkest Season
Shawnna was waiting to meet with a specialist to address Havick’s feeding issues when a KCSL home visitor approached her. Not having slept in days, she felt exhausted and overwhelmed. But she also felt seen. That conversation connected Shawnna to KCSL’s early childhood home visitation program, a decision she now calls life-changing.
Her family support specialist quickly became a steady presence. Through regular visits, Shawnna found emotional support and a connection to the outside world during a time when she felt isolated. Additionally, KCSL helped stabilize Shawnna’s entire household by helping with budget gaps. Her home visitor connected the family to resources to help with necessities like clothing, hygiene products, food and baby equipment.
“Our KCSL worker came in like she knew me my entire life and never made me feel like a bad mom,” Shawnna said. “Knowing she was coming each week kept me going.”
After three years of participating in KCSL’s home visitation program, Shawnna and Havick graduated in 2020 with high hopes for their family’s future.
From Receiving Support to Giving Back
Now, six years later, Shawnna’s family is not only stable but flourishing. Shawnna works as a paraprofessional in an elementary school. Her husband has built a successful career. Their daughter is preparing to graduate high school next year, becoming the first in Shawnna’s family to walk across the stage. And Havick, once the colicky infant who rarely slept, is now a confident, driven 9-year-old with a heart of gold. He excels in school, loves sports, participates in fundraising efforts and inspires his peers. Recently, Havick and two of his friends led a book drive at their school that collected more than 1,600 books to donate to families KCSL serves.
“We remembered KCSL and how much they impacted our lives,” Shawnna said. “To be able to give back to a program that supported us during our hardships feels like returning the favor.”
The Impact of Early Support
Looking back, Shawnna sees one central lesson from her journey: the power of accepting support. Her family’s story stands as a testament to resilience and to the impact of meeting families where they are.
“Take the chance and crack open the door for someone to help,” Shawnna said. “I did, and it helped save my life.”
