When Fan’s first child, Rain, was born, she was determined to raise him to be gentle, patient, and independent. But as he entered his crawling, walking, and climbing phases, things began to change. Originally from China, Fan was not well connected in her Ames community. When Rain, now 2, became a very mobile and curious...
At 8 years old, Sofia was often the only one caring for her younger siblings. She tried to be the “normal” girl at school but her only mission at home was to protect her younger brothers and sisters from near-constant neglect, hunger, and abuse. That all began to change when Mitch came into her life....
Originally from Bhutan, Bhakti and Chhali moved to Des Moines from a refugee camp in Nepal. Since then, they have been hard at work improving their English and establishing their new life in Iowa. But they remember feeling overwhelmed when the time came to take their U.S. citizenship exam. They both worked seven days a...
Jessica felt overwhelmed. She spent most of her time caregiving for her daughters, Angelique and Ariana, and she knew she needed a break. She turned to LSI’s Services for People with Disabilities. Through LSI, Jessica and her family receive respite care for the girls, which gives her some time to take a break, run errands,...
Our chapel is a place where I can feel comfortable talking about my experiences. I feel more positive now and I know I can bring my troubles here.
13-year-old Dakota’s childhood was filled with trauma and instability. He started acting out. He became verbally and physically aggressive, lashing out at close family members. For years after, Dakota struggled to find a way to calm his rage. But now he’s ready to make a positive change. When Dakota came to LSI’s Bremwood Residential Treatment...
Iresha loved staying at home to care for her first child, Tanasha. She was eager to bond with her daughter and see all of Tanasha’s “firsts.” Her first steps. Her first words. Iresha was excited to experience them all. But as Tanasha grew into an active one-year-old, Iresha felt isolated and knew something needed to...
Firmin Ntakimazi says Des Moines and LSI helped to save him. Now, he is giving back. After years of living in fear, surrounded by violence in his home country, Burundi, Firmin and his family found safety among Central Iowa’s welcoming people. Now Firmin, 52, has spent the last 10 years finding ways to be active...
Communication can be difficult for anyone, especially when it comes to mental health. For a while, Jonathan struggled to open up to any mental health experts. He saw several different psychiatrists over the past six years, but he never felt comfortable talking about his emotions. As Jonathan grew into his teenage years, his mother, Kristina,...
