A family is in peril as they face homelessness while caring for their severely autistic son, a story of hardship that emerges after they once saved him from a life in the foster system. Tammy Franke, 54, and her wife Jennifer Nichols, 50, who once adopted an infant in dire need of medical attention and a home, now find themselves in a desperate situation, battling to stay afloat both financially and medically.
Described by the Express-News, Franke, a former neonatal nurse, spent her Christmas in a hospital bed suffering from hypertension and chest pain, attributed in part to the extreme stress of their current living conditions in a motel. To avoid homelessness, the couple has had to cobble together $40 nightly for a motel room since August, a stark contrast to the nurturing environment they once provided for their adopted son, Timothy, now 18, who is nonverbal and has significant care needs including aggressive outbursts.
In the heart-wrenching tale recounted by the Express-News, Franke's bond with Timothy began in the NICU of St. Luke's Baptist Hospital. Timothy had been removed from his drug-addicted mother by Child Protective Services and was grappling with multiple significant health issues. Franke applied to foster and eventually adopt the child, who underwent a lifesaving liver transplant before his first birthday, defying bleak prognoses.
Now facing disabilities of her own, Franke is working to secure disability benefits and needs constant care for her conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Nichols, previously Timothy's "around the clock" caregiver, stands by her side, with the family relying on donations from GoFundMe, personal appeals on Facebook, and plasma donations to make ends meet. Despite accumulating over $4,000 in donations, the family lost eligibility for food benefits. Franke told the Express-News, "Nobody ever thinks they will be in a situation like this but I keep hearing that when a door closes a window opens."
Amid their homelessness, the family must also grapple with Timothy's care in these unstable conditions. Life at the motel proves highly disruptive for Timothy, who feels unsettled there, pacing throughout the night and sleeping very little. His adoptive mothers, who shared in a statement obtained by the Express-News, "I've never once stopped and said this is too hard, he's too sick, we can't do it. That was never part of our conversation," continue to confront the challenges with resolve. Yet, the physical and emotional toll is palpable as Franke admits that nowadays, "if I get through a day without crying, it's like a miracle. But I have no regrets."
