This is my blankie. Yes, I said blankie instead of blanket - it’s something I’ve done since I was a child. When I was born, my grandmother took me because my mother was unfit to take care of me. My grandmother was ‘mom’ to me along with everyone else, yet because she was sickly, it took a village to raise a child. The only other family member that was truly in my life is my aunt, who has been there with me since birth, along with my grandmother. My grandmother developed 3 different types of cancer at the same time: breast cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia. When my grandmother passed away, I didn’t understand, so when I was taken to her funeral, I looked into her casket and said ‘Wake up mommy.’ Since she didn’t wake up, I went to go play leapfrog with my cousins in the lobby. My blankie is the only thing I have left from her besides a picture that my aunt has.  My blankie is my prized possession and I don’t let anyone touch it. I can’t sleep without my blankie. I once went two days without sleeping when I was 15 because my aunt misplaced it but eventually it was found and I happily slept the whole day. My blankie has a momma bear and a baby bear on it and they are holding balloons.  Although it is all torn up and worn down, I find comfort in my blankie and even though it doesn’t smell like her anymore I feel safe with it. I loved my grandmother more than anything in the world and I still do - she saved my life.   

– Stephanie

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant