Kidney failure and family trouble tried to sink him
5 years ago Luvi's aunt wanted him to come to Slidell from Honduras. He was in the immigration system for a month, then finally was able to attend school. He began to have problems with his aunt. He said, "my behavior wasn't that good."
She put him out on the streets, and he had to find a place to live. He would live with friends but had to pay his portion of the rent. So many times, he wanted to quit school because it was so hard trying to work to pay the rent. He had no support system, and it was tough to get work and go to school.
His family would encourage him to quit school. He thought about that from time to time but also wanted to finish. He wrote on a piece of paper that he wanted to die but threw it in the trash. His teacher found it and told the principal. They brought him to meet Ms. Anderson, a counselor at Slidell High, and she found him a place to live at Aldersgate in his senior year.
Luvi discovered that he had severe kidney problems and was in and out of the hospital at least 5-6 times a month during his senior year. After he graduated, Aldersgate told him he had to leave. He is now living in a shed behind his aunt's house.
Despite his challenging circumstances, he wants to go to college to be a lawyer. For now, he works on roofs. He said that during that tough time in his life, the bright times were when he would get something from One Way Love. Whether it was food, gift cards, baskets, or goodie bags, he said it made him feel special. It meant the world just knowing someone out there cares for him. He is very thankful for One Way Love and the way they always made him feel like he wasn't alone.
