When Rev. DeBorah Ogiste got the call from authorities two years ago asking her if she was going to pick up her grandson, Elian after her daughter died of heart failure, she had no idea just how much her life would change.
She shared her experience and what motivated her to found, GrandBlessings, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren this week on Sister Talk, On Point with Juandolyn Stokes.
Before she started her “ministry” she says there were no resources for grandparents- no emotional or social support, and trying to navigate the financial [responsibilities] was stressful.
Elian came to live with his grandmother at 6 years-old so the grief has been hard for him.
Rev. Ogiste said, “Sometimes he’ll say,” All my friends have a mommy, how come I don’t have one?””
“You really have to dig deep. Some days it doesn’t feel like a blessing, but it is,” said Rev. Ogiste.
She added it is important that the children feel loved because they are so insecure. Many children have lost their parents to the growing opioid epidemic, which created another problem for their children, learning disabilities.
“It is difficult to get help. Fortunately, my grandson’s school has been helpful, but I had to advocate for him,” she said.
Rev. Ogiste says many grandparents have health issues, which limits their resources to pay for such things as summer camp, basketball, or music lessons.
“The poverty level for grandparents is astronomical! In Georgia there are about 250,000 grandparents raising grandchildren. Nationally that number is around 2.7 million grandparents raising grandchildren,” said Rev. Ogiste.