Rachel’s Story: A Journey from Fear to Confidence with MOMS by Her Side
When Rachel found out she was pregnant, just ten days after leaving an abusive relationship, she was alone, scared, and struggling. An immigrant from Syria with no family nearby, she had just lost her job and was unsure how she would raise a child on her own. Then, through a brochure at Hoag Hospital, she found MOMS.
Rachel joined the MOMS program in February 2024 and began taking classes online. At seven months pregnant, she was paired with Claudia, a MOMS home visitor, who immediately became more than just a professional, she became a trusted friend.
“Claudia gave me calm when I had nothing but fear,” Rachel shared. “She listened to me for an hour on our first call and reminded me I wasn’t alone.”
Through the stress of pregnancy and the aftermath of financial abuse by her partner, Claudia was there, offering essential items like maternity clothes and diapers, and connecting Rachel to MOMS health education resources for childbirth and breastfeeding support.
After her son was born healthy, Rachel faced a new challenge: the exhaustion and doubt of early motherhood. “I was walking through a dark tunnel,” she said. “I didn’t know if I was doing anything right. But Claudia would check in on me, remind me I was doing enough, and help me understand my baby’s development.”
Thanks to MOMS, Rachel learned what milestones to expect and how to support her baby’s growth. A memorable moment was when she learned that her baby’s cooing was his way of talking back to her. That moment gave her great confidence and joy in knowing that she was doing the right things.
Today, her baby is thriving, and Rachel has started a new job at a daycare so she can stay close to him. Though her family and former partner are no longer here, she credits MOMS with helping her feel seen, supported, and strong.
“Without MOMS, I would have had no one,” she says. “Doctors look at the medical side. MOMS looks at the whole person and child. This program should be extremely supported and continued.”
Madeline’s Story: When Uncertainty Meets Support
A mother residing in Huntington Beach, found herself facing unique challenges when her son, was born with partial deafness. This condition caused him to fall behind his peers as he struggled to make pace with expected developmental milestones. Seeking support and guidance, Madeline discovered MOMS Abriendo Puertas classes through Oak View Elementary, where her older daughter attended school. The classes, held on-site at the school in one of Orange County’s most economically challenged neighborhoods, provided a crucial lifeline. It was there that Madeline met Miss Gaby, the Abriendo Puertas instructor, who recognized her son’s specific needs and offered invaluable assistance.
Miss Gaby’s support extended beyond classroom instruction. Recognizing the importance of specialized intervention, she connected Madeline with Beyond Blindness, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children with disabilities. This referral proved transformative, providing him with access to resources and therapies tailored to his partial deafness. The combined support of the Abriendo Puertas program and Beyond Blindness empowered Madeline to advocate for her son’s needs and helped him overcome many of the developmental deficits he faced, setting him on a path to thrive despite the initial challenges.
Jessica’s Story: Where Worries Turn Into Wins
A first-generation college graduate, had to build a new roadmap for her family when she became pregnant with her son. Without the support of her son’s father, she and her own mother, struggled to make ends meet while living together on a tight budget. Despite the difficulties, Jessica was determined to provide the best possible start for her son. During her pregnancy, Jessica enrolled in MOMS Healthy Beginnings program so that she could learn as much as possible before becoming a mother. Through her home visits with her MOMS Maternal Child Health Worker, she discovered that aspects of her own childhood had been far from normal. A screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences found that she had endured far more than her remarkable resiliency suggested.
Determined to provide a kinder start for her son, Jessica completed the home visitation program and, on her last visit, received a ticket for herself and her son to attend Pretend City.
The interactive children’s museum, otherwise a luxury just out of reach, became a cherished outing for Jessica and her son, offering him a world of exploration and play. Their visit provided a much-needed escape and enriched his early childhood development in ways Jessica hadn’t thought possible.
Their shared experiences at the museum strengthened their bond and fostered her son’s early love of learning. Today, Jessica and her son remain active participants in the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative, a testament to the enduring impact of MOMS and Pretend City in shaping a young, promising mind.
Laura’s Story: From Fear to Flourishing
Laura didn’t have the easiest childhood. As a little girl, Laura grew up in a house where she and her mother had to practice staying invisible to remain safe and unharmed. In such a home, silence and shyness were a refuge from the punishment that self-expression would bring. The abuse that persisted through Laura’s childhood shaped her interactions with others as a young adult and, eventually, as a wife and mother. Although Laura’s husband is a kind and loving man who encourages her to make new friends, like many survivors, avoidance became a habit that was hard to shake. When her son was born, Laura knew that he deserved a life free from the fear and isolation that had defined hers. Laura, with support from her mother and husband alike, made the decision to enroll in Mommy & Me classes at MOMS.
Noticing Laura, her son, and his grandma keeping to themselves in a corner, Ms. Gaby pulled them out of their shell to participate in group activities, peer-to-peer support, and celebrations of their cohort’s successes. Keenly aware of each of her students’ progress, Ms. Gaby worked intensely with Laura and her son to pinpoint some delays to his speech that she suspected were born of a lack of social experiences outside the home.
He made great strides toward his speech goals with the support of his class cohort. As he and Laura continue to branch out and learn to advocate for themselves, we take great pride in being able to give this family the gentle lift they needed to engage in a nurturing and supportive community of peers.
