I was born in Fountain Valley, California.
My childhood years were very different from what most children experience. I had to grow up quickly.
At the time, my father was a marine and my mother was a stay at home mom.
I also had an older sister.
Things were normal until my dad started drinking.
It was sad seeing my family fall apart.
I used to cry, hoping that things would change.
My father did not like to see me cry. In fact, whenever I cried in front of him, I would always end up with a broken bone.
I remember being taken to the hospital with 22 broken bones and fractures scattered throughout my body.
At 11 months old, I was placed in foster care and I got shuffled through the system because I was in a full body cast and nobody wanted a baby in a cast from neck down.
A few days before my fourth birthday, I was finally adopted.
However, a short time later, the couple got a divorce.
My foster dad disappeared. Supposedly, he ran off with another woman. My foster mom started drinking. I still have memories of her drinking a 12 pack per day.
Every day, she would verbally abuse me.
There were multiple challenges I had to overcome since being adopted, including understanding who I was.
At 17 years old, I was kicked out of her house.
I haven't looked back since.
Now, I live with my biological family.
I'm proud of my thick skin. I’ve learned a lot of lessons over the years.
