Grandmother says love will see family through

Sharon Thompson, a woman who has dedicated her life to caring for children, was already working two jobs to support her granddaughter Troyanna, 12, when she came home in June to find her grandson and a note.

It said only: “Something came up.”

To care for Lauviance, 14, Thompson left a job at the Nebraska Children’s Home. Her primary job since 1991 has been with Douglas County Head Start, the preschool program for low-income families.

Thompson, 52, said her mother instilled in her a love for kids.

“My mom did a lot of foster caring,” Thompson said. “She thought she could save the world through kids, and I took that to heart.”

But her Head Start job doesn’t pay what it once did. Thompson now is a para educator, or teacher’s aide, because of a state regulation that requires Head Start teachers to hold a four-year degree.

Throw in transmission trouble with her car and health problems of her own caused by cysts, and Thompson fell behind.

“There was no money left,” she said.

Earlier this month, she found help. The World-Herald’s Goodfellows charity issued a $200 check for her utility bills. Goodfellows takes donations for year-round emergency aid and a holiday food program.

“I was shocked,” Thompson said.

Thompson now faces another challenge after surgery to have the cysts removed. For the next six to eight weeks, she’ll be unable to “lift anything but a coffee cup.”

But Thompson said she and her grandchildren will pull through these tough times as they have before, with love.

Contact the writer:

444-3150, joel.fulton@owh.com

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