By Carley Stern, The New York Times, August 24, 2021
When Jackie Lynn’s niece gave birth after using heroin during her pregnancy, Ms. Lynn sprang into action.
She thought she had turned the page on parenting, after raising two children and living alone for 14 years. But while her niece pursued treatment, Ms. Lynn moved to Oregon, from Washington State, in 2009 to care for the baby and his four siblings. Her job as a manager became untenable, so she took a pay cut — even as her expenses mounted.
“The kids were there. They needed me,” Ms. Lynn, now 67, said. “It’s not like you can choose to walk away from something like that.”
For nearly a year, Ms. Lynn rented an apartment and commuted almost four hours each day between child care and work. She adopted three of the children; the two others moved in with other relatives.
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