Family Relationships Self-Care Living Assessments

Tommy Connolly was a regular college student who spent time with friends, studied and worked. However, when he received a Facebook message from his 17-year-old cousin he hadn't seen in years, his life turned upside down.

Tommy got a daughter

His cousin had an extremely rough life, and after dropping out of school, battling drug addiction, being abandoned on the streets, left homeless and 8 months pregnant, the teenager had nowhere to go and reached out to Tommy as a last resort.

According to Little Things, "Tommy didn't think twice. Without [his cousin] even asking, he picked her up, brought her home, [sic] and legally adopted her." He said he wanted "to make sure she'd keep the baby, stay off the streets and have a better life," according to FaithIt.

Posted by Tommy Connolly on Saturday, April 4, 2015

In an Instagram post, Connolly wrote an explanation of the situation that touched thousands of hearts. He said, "She's spent more time on the streets than anywhere else, and knows the police better than she knows her own family. She could write the book on traumatic experiences."

He went on to give an update on how the teenager and new mom is doing. He said, "Glad to finally say she's now living in a safe, stable, awesome house ... with a brand new bed, and brand new life. She just passed her learners drivers license test ... and also book(ed) her in to get braces for her teeth next month."

According to the post, she's also learning how to read, write and educate herself. She gave birth to her healthy baby boy and is on track for a better life.

So here's the story.. Just to update some of my mates. A few months ago I picked up my younger cousin, Kiarna. I hadn't seen her for over 10 years. She'd just turned 17, she was 32 weeks pregnant, homeless, no shoes, no phone, with less than a backpack full of clothes. Her baby was going to be taken when it arrived, as she's had a lifetime of instability and bad history, most likely due to the traumatic childhood. The "boy friend" is in prison. I took her in, to make sure she'd keep the baby, stay off the streets and have a better life. This was her only option. Life dealt Kiarna a poor hand, and she's had to play it best she could. She's spent more time on the streets than anywhere else, and knows the police better than she knows her own family. She could write the book on traumatic experiences. Not many people know her story. It's very intense. Nobody deserves the life she's had. I've spent the last few months working, moving houses, having meetings with different departments, signing forms, being assessed and monitored, chasing funds, setting up her bank accounts, buying baby stuff, furniture, going to hospital/doctor appointments, and getting her settled in. Glad to finally say she's now living in a safe, stable, awesome house on the Sunshine Coast with a brand new bed, and brand new life... away from drugs, violence, and drama. I got her a kitten too! She's just passed her learners drivers license test and I'm teaching her to drive a manual, and also booked her in to get braces for her teeth next month. She has plenty of clothes, she's improving her reading and writing, and she's motivated to get the education that she never had... But most importantly she's just given birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy named Kaydan. She's the toughest girl I know!! All she wants is for him to have a better life than she's had. There's still a long way to go, but things are on track and she has the opportunity she deserves. When bad things happen, it's your family that supports you.. It means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I've had my family pull my head out of the gutter before... It was time to pay it forward. Family comes first ✌️

A post shared by Tommy Connolly (@tommy.connolly) on

Connolly's cousin gave birth to the beautiful baby boy, and he even got to cut the umbilical cord. He works hard to support his little family, and loves them so much.

While many other young people his age prefer to spend their free time partying with friends or travelling the world, he says he doesn't mind not having a social life while taking care of his cousin and her son.

He says, "When bad things happen, it's your family that supports you ... It means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I've had my family pull my head out of the gutter before ... It was time to pay it forward. Family comes first."

This article was adapted and translated from the original "Rapaz se torna avô aos 23 anos e sua história intrigante viraliza" which was originally published on familia.com.br.
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