‘We learn from each other:’ Healthy Families Client Grows her Community and Self-Confidence

When Lindy unexpectedly became pregnant at 17 years old, she made the brave decision to leave her family in Guatemala behind to seek a better life in the United States for herself and her unborn daughter. 

“In my country, we don’t have enough opportunities,” said Lindy. “If you have a baby, you can’t have a job or pursue an education. There aren’t enough programs to help people.” 

Lindy enrolled in Catholic Charities Healthy Families North Shore program in Lynn, where she not only gained access to resources and information on motherhood but became a part of a community that lifted her up and taught her to believe in herself. 

Reyna Ross, Lindy’s home visitor, said that she is amazed at how much Lindy has grown since joining Healthy Families. From graduating high school with all A’s and completing a junior ROTC program, to earning her driver’s license, learning English, and finding a stable job and housing – all while raising her daughter – Reyna said Lindy continues to set and conquer new goals every day. 

“I’ve learned self-confidence,” said Lindy, now 21. “I was worried to become a mom, but Reyna always says, ‘You’re doing great. If you ever need me, please let me know.’” 

From educating Lindy on nutrition for babies, connecting her to parent-child support groups, and providing her with gift cards around the holidays, Lindy said the Healthy Families staff have transformed her life in the United States – reminding her she is never alone, even with her family being thousands of miles away. 

“It can be hard since my own mom is not here with me,” said Lindy. “I miss my family. But Reyna and the other staff members have been like mothers to me.” 

Lindy and her daughter are now living in Salem. Lindy works at a bakery in Lynn during the week while her daughter attends daycare, where she is already making new friends and learning both English and Spanish. 

“Lindy is a strong person, and she has a lot of dreams,” said Reyna. “She is just amazing.” 

Throughout the year, on her days off, Lindy participates in social gatherings hosted by Healthy Families for parents and children, from walks in the park to birthday celebrations for the kids. 

“It’s nice to be able to talk to the other mothers and share stories about our babies and hear how they are doing things,” she said. “We learn from each other.” 

To learn more about Catholic Charities Boston’s Healthy Families program, click here. To find out how you can support clients like Lindy, visit our Ways to Give page.