When I was 6 and my brother was 3 my mother left... She returned when I was 11 years old. She convinced me to run away and live with her when I was 13. I did because I didn’t want to go to school. That was a big mistake.My mother ran a whorehouse and after I lived with her for 6 months she told me that I had to go work. I said that I would go out and find a job but my mother said, ‘No, I have a job for you here.To make a long story short, when I was 13 years old my mother taught me how to turn tricks and to become a prostitute.

When I was 17 I ran away to New York and lived inManhattan. I lived there doing the only thing that I knew how to do—turn tricks and hustle. I made a lot of money. I had a pimp for 12 years.He constantly beat me and I always had a broken nose and black eyes. I didn’t know any better. It was a terrible, terrible life.

In 1999, I was involved in an accident with a subway train in New York. I can’t discuss it due to a pending lawsuit. I lost both of my legs and was in Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island for two years. It was a wonderful place. I received therapy and was taught how to live without legs.

I believe everything happens for a reason. If I hadn’t lost my legs I would have still been out there hustling and I know I would have ended up dead.There is no doubt in my mind about that.

I have two daughters here and a son in Istanbul, Turkey. I have four grandchildren.My daughters wanted me to come back to Norwalk so that’s how I ended up here. I knew a lot of people here.My ex’s mother was very good to me. I’ve known her since I was 18 and she was much better to me than my own mother. She wanted me to move in with her but I couldn’t do that so I found my own apartment. I needed to have someone live with me to help me but when it was discovered that I was not living alone I was evicted.

I knew about the Norwalk Emergency Shelter because I would go for meals there and I would get food from the food pantry. I saw all of the good work the staff of the Shelter did and does.They look for people to help and they found me. I really needed help. If it wasn’t for the Norwalk Emergency Shelter, I know I’d be dead.

How could I earn money for food and a place to live? The Shelter and its staff, especially Sharon, Frank and Carole really helped me.They care about people and they cared about me. I lived at the Shelter and I ate all of my meals there.They even got me a wheel chair with a motor.

Now I share an apartment in Norwalk but I still use lots of the service at the Shelter. I love this place. It saved my life and I thank God for the Norwalk Emergency Shelter everyday. I have a dream to have my own wheel chair assessable apartment someday but for now life is good.