Older sister gives youngest sibling chance to be a kid

Dec. 01--ROCKPORT -- Penny, her dark hair in braids and wearing new glasses, grabbed her fuzzy bunny for a little courage.

After chatting for a bit she shyly handed over her letter to Santa, which listed typical requests for a fifth-grader. A Barbie Dream house, a My Little Pony train set, Monster High dolls.

But it's the item at the bottom of the list that reveals the most: a week at my house with my family, and animals and friends.

"Get out of adult business," her sister Jillian says with a smile. Jillian worries the 10-year-old has had to deal with too many adult problems, hasn't had the chance to just be a kid.

Penny was raised by her father's girlfriend, Mama Lee Lee, for nine years. But Mama Lee Lee died about a year ago. She went to live with her father, but he struggles with substance abuse and medical problems. He lost his leg below the knee and had to move to a nursing home. That's when her oldest sister -- 48 and newly married -- stepped in. Now Jillian is the constant in Penny's life.

Penny represents thousands of kids who will be helped by the Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal. The names of those profiled are changed to protect the privacy of the families, who will be featured in the newspaper to Christmas Eve.

Jillian acknowledges that it's been a struggle. The family recently moved to Rockport from San Antonio. She was working for a home healthcare agency, but lost the job when she had a medical issue. She now works for an insurance agency part-time and is slowly gaining more work hours. But she is the sole earner in the household as her husband Ralph, a native of Dominica, waits for clearance to work in the United States.

They just moved from the hotel room they had been living in to a small one-bedroom rental, shaded by Rockport's signature live oaks.

"We took the house on faith," Jillian mentions, not sure if they'll be able to afford it for long. They've relied on donated furniture: a futon for Jillian and Ralph, a rollaway twin bed for Penny. Jillian's coworkers helped out, buying Penny the glasses she needed and giving them a small dining set. Jillian would love to get Penny a real bed and dresser, maybe a DVD player so she can watch some movies.

Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported the plight of needy children during the holiday season. Every cent donated to the drive benefits the children because all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies.

Participating agencies include the Boys & Girls Club of Alice, Duval County Christmas Committee, the Kleberg County Welfare Department, Nueces County Department of Social Services, the Odyssey After-School Enrichment Program in Rockport, Sinton for Youth Inc. and the Women's Shelter of South Texas.

In San Antonio, school was a struggle and there wasn't a lot of emphasis on good grades in her family.

"I don't even know how I passed," Penny murmurs. Her sister is adamant she will succeed in school, arranging for tutoring, meeting with teachers, encouraging her to shoot for college. They like their new town. Penny recently earned a spot on the school choir. She's enrolled in the Odyssey After-School program.

Their situation can be overwhelming, Jillian admits. But she refuses to back down from helping Penny, "I just want her to know that she's worth it. She's worth every effort. She is very much wanted," Jillian states fiercely, wiping tears from her eyes. "Circumstances change, but she's never ONCE not been wanted."

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