In The Beginning... Brandlyn Dekota

I had a beautiful upbringing because of the sacrifices my grandmother Florine and grandfather Reuben made. It all began on August 25, 1984 at a women's correctional center on Broad River Road in Columbia, S.C. 
             
                                                 I WAS BORN IN PRISON.

​Yep, my beautiful mother, Daphine was 26 years old at the time and I'm so grateful she gave me life. She had a healthy baby girl! She was so surprised because early in her pregnancy she was a drug addict. Hearts broke two days later. My grandparents came to my mother and took her baby girl away. I went to live with my 55 year old grandmother and 61 year old grandfather. My mother wouldn't see me again until I was about 10 months later.  What's even more devastating--my mother had to have a full hysterectomy because of the cancer she had during her pregnancy. So sad. So life changing. So depressing, and so much trauma. 

Well, I went home with my grandparents. After raising 12 children of their own, they now had a newborn. Momma and Daddy (what I called them) treated me like I was their 13th child. I was more than lucky, I was blessed. I loved them so much for all of their unconditional love they gave on a daily basis. LOVE.