Loss and Instability to Healing and Hope: Makayla's Story

When Makaylah enrolled with the 100 Families Initiative, she was navigating an overwhelming season of loss and instability. She was the mother of 10-month-old twins, one of whom had tragically passed away just weeks after birth. While grieving the loss of her child, Makaylah was also facing homelessness, unemployment, unreliable transportation, limited financial resources, and little to no social support as she worked to care for her surviving daughter, Laila.

At intake, Makaylah was assessed to be in crisis or at serious risk in six of the thirteen key care areas used to measure overall wellbeing. These compounding barriers made it difficult to meet basic needs, process grief, or begin moving toward long-term stability. The weight of trauma, loss, and uncertainty touched nearly every area of her life.

Despite these challenges, Makaylah demonstrated remarkable resilience and a willingness to engage in support. From the beginning, she showed determination to create a different future for herself and her daughter.

Since beginning services, Makaylah has made steady and meaningful progress. She secured full-time employment and is currently working as a cafeteria cook with the Monticello School District—providing consistency, structure, and stability for her family. She enrolled Laila in preschool, creating routine and a nurturing environment for her daughter’s growth and development. Makaylah also began budgeting carefully and has taken intentional steps toward saving money, marking a significant shift after years of financial instability.

Equally important, Makaylah committed to addressing her emotional health. She began working with a therapist to process her grief and reports that therapy has made a real difference in her healing. She has shared that she feels genuinely supported and helped, describing a renewed sense of hope, strength, and clarity as she continues moving forward.

In September, Makaylah reached another major milestone when she obtained her own vehicle. Reliable transportation dramatically improved her ability to commute to work, attend appointments, and manage daily responsibilities independently. Just a few months later, in December 2025, Makaylah achieved something she had not experienced in years—she moved into her own apartment.

In addition to stabilizing her present circumstances, Makaylah is actively investing in her future. She is making payments on past student loans to bring them out of default so she can return to college. Inspired by her own journey, she is interested in pursuing a career in social work and hopes to one day help families who are navigating crisis and instability.

Throughout her journey, Makaylah has worked alongside a network of coordinated supports, including HopePlace, Desired Haven, Living Well Therapy, and Mainline Health Services—each playing a role in her path toward stability and healing.

Over the course of two years, Makaylah transitioned from crisis to stability. From securing housing and employment to enrolling her daughter in preschool, purchasing a car, addressing her mental health, and planning a return to college, each step represented progress toward independence and restoration.

Today, Makaylah has built a strong foundation for herself and Laila—one rooted in stability, resilience, and hope. Her journey is a powerful example of what is possible when perseverance is met with coordinated support, compassionate care, and a community committed to walking alongside families through their hardest seasons.