Canyon Acres Children and Family Successes…

Ricky's Story

Before Canyon Acres I never knew what it was like to live in a normal home. When I born, I was immediately taken away from my parents and placed in the intensive care unit at the hospital because I was blue, not breathing, and in withdrawals from heroin and cocaine that was in my system. After recitation they called me “Baby Boy Peterson” because I was alone and without a name. From that point on my life did not go so well. I was moved from home to home never really fitting in and always feeling alone. I never knew my family or many of my brothers and sisters. I was the second to youngest of 8 children. My youngest sibling Jessica grew up with me moving from home to home. She was not born with as many drugs in her body so life was a bit easier for her. For me life was still very tough. I had a lot of anger and aggression and I had never learned how to calm myself down. On top of that I had learning severe disabilities and attention problems due to brain damage from the drug exposure.

When I was four I was reunited with my parents. I was very happy but life had not gotten any easier. My mom would leave for days at a time and my dad was still using drugs. One night my mom and dad got into a fight. This was normal for them… however on this night the fight was really bad. I was so scared and my dad had ripped the phone out of the wall. I soon found the cell and called 911.

The cops soon arrived and my sister and I watched as my parents got hand cuffed and taken to jail. I thought I had done the right thing but I soon came to doubt this because once again I was taken away to a new home and shortly after my sister was taken away and adopted into a new family without me. My mom and dad remained in prison.

I was so sad at this point and life continued to get worse. I thought my sister and I were to be adopted out together. I was wrong. I had nobody. All I wanted was a family and to be with my sister, however due to my aggression problems and poor impulse control I was told this would never happen. I felt so alone and so empty. I continued to move from home to home until one day I wound up at a wonderful place called Canyon Acres while wearing a clown outfit.

This life-changing day was on Halloween of 1999. I came out from school at the end of the day thinking I was going back to my residence at that time. However a social worker picked me up in my clown outfit and drove me to Canyon Acres. It was another move for me, but when I got to Canyon Acres it was different.

The kids at Canyon Acres seemed happy and the people who worked there seemed to care. It was the prettiest place I have ever lived, however things were still really tough for me as I still was alone, confused, angry, and sad. On top of that, I had watched my dad behave in such aggressive ways that I knew nothing other than to act the same. In fact, I use to have horrible nightmares. I would wake up screaming, yelling and punching at monsters or at people who I thought were breaking into my window to kidnap me. Nighttime was terrifying for me until one night my life changed forever.

This night was special because I woke up shaking from a horrible nightmare. I was so scared I got up and asked if I could use the restroom. Little did I know that the person watching over me that night was to become my guardian angel. Her name was Farrah and she told me that I didn’t need to be afraid because she was there to protect me and that Canyon Acres was a safe place from monsters and bad people.

Farrah continued to watch over the house at nighttime. I knew I was safe and that I could trust her. Sleeping became a little bit easier and my nightmares gradually decreased. Soon day and nights became easier for me. I began to do better in school and the people at Canyon Acres continued to support me even in lieu of all my problems. I had never been in a home where people cared enough to take me out to dinner or to the beach for an activity, or to plays out in Hollywood such as “The Lion King”. From that point on and for the first time I knew what it was like to laugh and be happy. Life began to get easier with each day.

In 2001 I had a chance to return home with my biological mother. I was so terrified yet happy at the same time. I also didn’t want to leave the safety of Canyon Acres and the wonderful people who I considered my family. Two days before I was scheduled to move in with her she got sent back to prison for drug use. My world once again fell apart. However, Canyon Acres did not give up on me. They continued to support me even though I was out of control and full of rage.

Not only did Canyon Acres not give up on me, neither did Farrah. She was the one person I could trust.

By the end of 2001 Canyon Acres had helped me so much that I had a real chance to move into one of their homes with five other boys. I could not believe that I was going to live in a real house with a pool. The people at this home cared for me in ways no other people had cared for me before. They also taught me valuable life skills I had never been taught before. I learned how to respect and care for others and to accept that life is not always fair. I learned to control my temper and to not assault people who were only trying to help. I learned the value of relationships and friendships. The most important thing that Canyon Acres did for me was not giving up on me. If I were living in any other home I would been kicked out because there were nights I was so angry I wanted to kill myself or someone else.

Eventually Farrah no longer worked with me and she quit her job at Canyon Acres so she could be my volunteer. She picked me up 5 days a week for many months. During this time my Dad got out of prison and developed a strong relationship with Canyon Acres and Farrah. He also graduated a rehab program and was drug free for the first time in his life. Life was getting better at Canyon Acres once again and they told me I was doing so well I was ready to move on with Farrah. My heart jumped and I realized what they meant. Farrah had completed her Foster Classes with the help of Canyon Acres and I was able to move in with her.

In October of 2003, Halloween night my dream came true. I had a mom. Canyon Acres continued to support us throughout my three years with her and my Dad continued to remain drug free. I couldn't believe that I actually had a mom to watch me play sports, attend school functions, and most importantly love me in good times and bad. In July of 2005 my biological mother passed away due to continued drug use. Canyon Acres supported me in my time of loss and reminded me that I was strong enough to push through the dark. They were right and in October of 2006 we finalized the adoption with the help of Canyon Acres and my father.

I wanted to say that if it wasn't for Canyon Acres I wouldn't have the life that I have now. The extra effort that people put into my life has made all the difference in the world. I'm now a 10th grader at Foothill High School in Tustin. I attend school full time, play hockey, soccer, and have a part-time job at school. I volunteer Saturdays at a vet hospital where I have learned to do for animals what Canyon Acres had done for me. Save a life!

I want to thank everyone who has helped me……not only did you save my life, you have saved the life of my father who has told me if it wasn’t for the love of Farrah and the continued support of Canyon Acres he would have given up on life long ago. My father now looks forward to my High School Graduation and I see him regularly.

Thank you everyone, if it wasn’t for you I can't begin to imagine where my life might be. Canyon Acres and my Mom Farrah are the best gift I could have ever been given and now I have a life to look forward to.

THANK YOU!