Christina, Honored Marine and Mom, Dedicated to Helping Others
Purpose
Christina and Junior are part of a larger movement of veterans helping veterans and parents helping parents. The New Hampshire Children’s Trust recently recognized her as an “Unsung Hero” and complimented the Marine’s resiliency by saying she has "the ability to “bounce back” and “thrive” during difficult situations.
Christina began living on her own at 16 while she still attended high school. Meanwhile she watched friends drop out of school and make bad decisions. She knew that wasn’t the path for her and that she needed to get away. She entered into the Delayed Entry Program and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as soon as she graduated. She was drawn to the physical demands, the camaraderie, the chance to develop skills, and the opportunity to leave her hometown that the military offered.
Christina embraced the military environment. She developed a work ethic and drive that led to job opportunities. Upon leaving active duty she was hired as a field supervisor for a large maintenance and construction company.
However, Christina suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She fell into a dark depression with suicidal thoughts and checked herself into Concord Hospital. Out of work, she later got a temp job, but could barely earn enough to live on and battled homelessness.
In 2013, she was hired in an administrative role with another construction company. She would later be promoted to accounts receivable where she managed multi-million-dollar contracts. She was doing great financially, had a nice apartment, but was still struggling with her mental health. This would eventually catch up with her.
She took a leave of absence from work, but her mental health prevented her from returning. She ran through her savings. No longer able to pay her rent, she knew she needed help and a place to go, so Christina reached out. A week later she moved into Buckingham Place, one of Harbor Care’s transitional housing complexes for veterans.
Shortly after moving in, she learned she was pregnant. This was a pivotal moment for Christina. “I took it as an opportunity to change my life. It’s not just about me anymore.”
Governor Recognizes Harbor Care’s “Unsung Hero”
With her housing stabilized, she was able to focus her attention on getting better, and she had a greater purpose to do so. She accessed Harbor Care’s mental health services and worked with our support staff to create a plan to move forward.
In early 2020 she gave birth to her son, Junior. Being a mom empowered Christina. “I want him to see that drive,” she stated. She got connected with Waypoint Services for support with early-childhood development for Junior. She became an advocate, working with the NH Department of Children, Youth, and Families’ Better Together program, to support other parents in a volunteer role. She connected with Grow Nashua to get two garden beds designated for the veteran residents of Buckingham Place to grow their own food.
In recognition of her achievements, Christina was awarded the Unsung Hero award by the NH Children’s Trust for her resilience and perseverance this year. Grow Nashua soon hired her as an outreach worker in a part-time role. Then, Christina and Junior hit another important milestone last summer, moving into their own apartment.
In addition to her role at Grow Nashua, Christina will soon start volunteering at Harbor Care’s Cynthia Day Center, our treatment and recovery program for pregnant and parenting women, running activities to support mother-child bonding.
As she continues to make positive steps forward, she recognizes how important self-care is for her and her son. She takes it day-to-day, or just snack to nap time for Junior. Christina’s long-term goal is to pursue a career helping others, such as a Peer Support Specialist or Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW).
Reflecting back on her time at Buckingham Place, Christina remarks how “having housing and food took away the anxiety, the survival mode. I could focus on getting better, not just for me, but for Junior. ”