Stories

Read and learn about the lasting impact HopeSparks is having as we walk alongside children and families in our community.

Meet Duke

He was born prematurely at just 25 weeks, weighing 1 lb 15 oz at birth. During his 5-month stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Duke experienced a severe brain bleed and underwent several operations to treat a variety of complications. When Duke’s mother, Brea, brought him home for the first time, she felt isolated…

Richardson Family Story

Life was just getting started for newlyweds Bryan and Brianna. They were settling comfortably into their new routines as a married couple, and Brianna was busy getting acquainted with her new job. When they were asked to take their one year old nephew, Cassius, into their home, the decision to say yes came easily to…

Herrington Family Story

Angela and her husband were excitedly preparing for the birth of their daughter, Maeve. Following a typical pregnancy, Maeve came into the world with a surprise diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). From that moment, Angela was told that she would be Maeve’s expert when it came to caring for her condition. This meant a rigorous…

We Are Strong

Jack came into the world at just 28 weeks gestation, and after a long 3 month stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, he came home with an NG feeding tube. Jack’s parents, Zephyr and Brian, felt helpless as Jack vomited often, choked on the feeding tube, and had to be held down to put…

I Am Determined

As a single mom, Charity often found herself stressed out and overwhelmed with taking care of her three kids. When she started getting phone calls from her daughter Emily’s school about disruptive behavior, she felt torn between needing to be at work so she could pay the bills and needing to pick Emily up from…

I Am Worthy

When Chloe entered high school and started feeling concerned about her weight, she decided to make some changes to what she was eating. She saw the weight loss results she desired, and found herself feeling more and more preoccupied with food. With the loss of her Grandfather shortly after school started, Chloe felt more anxious…

We’ve Gained Strength

It was an ordinary Tuesday when Mary and Michelle got a phone call from Mary’s son asking them to drop everything and pick up their grandchildren from Child Protective Services in Las Vegas. Mary had been preparing for her first day at a new job, and together, she and Michelle have been planning for the…

Jack and Michael’s Story

Newly retired Mike was just getting used to the idea of a slower paced life, and Carrie was excited to start working at a new job. They had just committed to being live-in caregivers for Carrie’s aging parents and were settling into their new routine. Suddenly, Mike and Carrie found their entire world turned upside…

Yo Sé La Verdad

Three young siblings play in front of a Tacoma elementary school, climbing on a low wall and posing for photos. They smile, laugh, run around, and hug their mom. People passing by would have no indicators of the hardships Olga and her children have overcome to get where they are today. Olga met her ex-boyfriend…

I Choose

Sometimes your best friend becomes your worst enemy. Food began as Bri’s friend. It extended its welcoming embrace, sheltering her from all of her troubles. It was there for her after she was sexually abused by her father. It was there for her while she watched her mother battle with deep depression. It was there…

I AM MINE

Alexander suffered extensive trauma from a very young age. When he was sixteen Alex was adopted and moved to Tacoma. Despite the difficulties he was going through he reached out to his friends and was recommended to go to The Rainbow Center for their transgender support groups. This is where he met HopeSparks’ therapist Morgan…

I Found the Light

Nakita and her six year old son, Aziah, haven’t had it easy the last few years. Fleeing domestic violence left them feeling unsafe and not sure where to turn. Aziah began suffering from PTSD due to things he had seen in his home prior to leaving the domestic violence behind. He began having nightmares and…

I See My Beauty

Lauryn had always struggled with seeing her worth. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive tendencies dominated her thinking, and therefore, her life. She was able to keep things more or less under control until her best friend committed suicide. “Every mental issue I had became exacerbated tenfold. I started sleeping whenever I wasn’t at work, and taking pills…