In 1977 I decided I did not want to live at home anymore,so I ran away. I was 14 years old at the time. I went to live in the Florida Baptist Children's Home in Lakeland Florida. This is where I met Darryl Lee,a young man who was the same age as I. We were living in the same cottage. He had family issues as well. I fell in love with him instantly. I think I was looking for someone to love me. I started sneaking to his room at night and having sex with him. I did not realize at the time how this would change my life forever. Before I knew it I was pregnant at the age of 15. The first thing they wanted me to do was have an abortion,but that did not happen. Then the Children's Home wanted to send me to a home in Texas for unwed mothers. Of course my parents said no to that. My social worker took me home for a visit so that I could tell my parents. I was afraid to tell them I thought my father would beat me up. I knew my mother would be very hurt. My father was at work when we got there and I did not stay for my weekend visit. But I later learned that I could have. My parents loved me and wanted me to come home and live. Darryl Lee was placed in a foster home to live. Right away his social worker started questioning if the child was his. This really upset me a lot. I told him that Darryl was the only one that I had sex with. Darryl and I did not get to see each other as often as I wanted us to. I was lonely and scared and very much in love with him. After going home one of my cousins was making bad remarks about me being pregnant and my parents decided to move to Winter Haven. Times were tough for our family because I had a younger sister who had leukemia. My parents knew that they would not be able to pay my medical bills. I had a social worker and she suggested I go into temporarily state custody until the baby was born. So at 7 months pregnant I went to a home for unwed teens in St.Petersberg. My family came to visit me on the weekends. It was very lonely being so far away from home. I only had contact with Darryl by phone. I was so in love with him and missed him very much. When I went into this home everyone thought I was giving my baby up at birth. On November 25,1978 I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl. I named her Stephanie Dianne Powell. I ask to see her and that was it. I knew I could not give her away. I called Darryl to tell him and he said he could not help me. Of course his social worker was very upset about my decision. Once again,my parents said I could come home and live. They came to pick up Stephanie and I and took us home. I really don't know what I was thinking at the time I was 16 years old and a mother. I know that my life was not going to be the same ever again. My mother helped me with Stephanie,she would walk the floor with her at night because she had the colic. I tried going back to school,but I just did not feel the same as before. I dropped out of school 3 months in the 11th grade. I was going to go to work. Darryl was still in foster care and going to school and was involved in sports. He did come over to see Stephanie. We even took her to Tampa to see his parents. My parents were upset and worried that we would not be back. But we did come back and for a few moments I was happy that he was in my life. I should have been able to see that he did not love me though. He did not truly love me.
