“I had a dream of giving my daughter’s a home for over 14 years. They will finally see my dreams come true and see that nothing is given without hard work put into it.”
Alicia Lathan and her two daughters, Angelina (age 16) and Alexia (age 12) are a very close “together family” that has been through a lot of ups and downs, but continues to stay strong and resilient despite the challenges they face. Alicia had worked at Home Depot for seven years before building her way up to working as a full time Law Assistant at the Law Office of Jeanette Secor. Angie loves school (especially cosmetology classes) and animals (especially dogs). Lexie loves soccer with all of her heart and is very creative and helpful. Her mother says “She’s got a kick that’s out of this world and has won a trophy in a tournament for that kick.” Way to go Alexia!
The Lathan Family has experienced a lot of hardships over the years. Alicia has been a single mother since Angelina was two and has never received child support. Her first pregnancy was nerve-wracking because Angelina was diagnosed with CCAM – Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (a cyst on her right lower lobe of her lung) before she was even born. She had a 50/50 chance of surviving birth, but thankfully came out strong. At 14 months, Angie had a surgery that took way longer than expected to remove the cyst and lost a lot of blood, resulting in having to have a blood transfusion. “We got through that surgery,” Alicia says. “She’s had two surgeries for ear tubes, along with adenoids out. In and out of the hospital constantly over her lungs. She had to have emergency surgery in 2019 for an ovarian cyst that was huge and about to cut off circulation to her ovary.” Just recently, the family found out that Angelina also has Scoliosis. Despite all of the odds, Angelina has persisted and is a strong-willed, big-hearted girl who has a loving family by her side.
Not only has the family struggled with medical issues, but also housing issues. They were living in a house that had a lot of leaks and mold problems since they moved in. They would wake up to termites flying and landing on their face and in their hair. For three months during the summer, the family had no AC. Because of the leaks and termites, most of the family’s furniture was ruined. Angelina’s lung issues were also increasing due to the mold problems. They were finally able to move out, but have to live with two other families where space is limited for their belongings and for food. This living situation caused a lot of stress both financially and emotionally.
The Lathan Family’s life was changed for the better when they received the news they were accepted into the Habitat program. “Our lives will be forever changed. When you struggle just to know where your children will lay their heads at night, getting this kind of news is life changing.” Alicia says that she cried when she first heard the news. “I finally did it, I am going to finally give my daughter’s the home they deserve. A SAFE HOME!”
Building a forever home for a family such as the Lathan’s could not be possible without each and every one of our volunteers. For those who are interested in volunteering with Habitat, Alicia gives this bit of advice: “Do it!!! Don’t think about it, just do it. Volunteering does so much for the community in general. The little time that you volunteer for someone, could mean the world to them. Remember no one’s lives are the same and sometimes just that little bit of encouragement could change someone’s lives forever.” For more information on how to get involved with volunteering for Habitat, please check out our Volunteer Page.
“I am building because I want to build a home for me and my children that will be safe and secure. I want to show my children that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.”
This home is sponsored by:
The Lathan Family home was dedication on June 17th, 2022.
