Grantee Story
Inspiring a First-time Mom
Nurse-Family Partnership
Denise Silva is studying to be a nurse, just like the one who changed her life through the Nurse-Family Partnership. Five-year-old Haven Quintero attends two preschool classes each day, begs to go to the library and loves writing the names of everyone in her family. Bright and happy, she has lived up to the name her mom picked.
"Haven means a sacred place. When I was first pregnant, I felt I was all alone. Your kids always make you feel that warmth," said Haven's mom, Denise Silva. "If I ever need something, my kids are going to provide it. My parents never showed me the love I wanted."
Now 25 and the mother of two girls, Silva was just a little older than Haven when she threatened to call Social Services if her dad ever hit her again. Silva said her dad was an abusive alcoholic and her mom was into drugs. They split when she was a toddler and she bounced from relative to relative, often running away from home.
By age 16, Silva was living on her own in a trailer in her hometown of Granada outside Lamar in southeastern Colorado.
Remarkably, she managed to thrive in school and earn a scholarship to college. But at age 20, Silva got pregnant. Like most of the people in her life, the father of her baby also walked out and left Denise on her own. Alone and despairing, Silva made a promise to herself: my child will never have the life I had.
Then Silva met Karla Work with the Nurse-Family Partnership in Prowers County. The program, which falls under The Colorado Trust's Nurse-Family Partnership & Invest in Kids initiative, has a proven track record for inspiring dramatic long-term benefits for low-income, first-time mothers and their children.
Silva and Work bonded immediately with regular weekly visits throughout Silva's pregnancy and until Haven turned two.
"I loved her to death. I still do. She was like my pregnancy mother,'' Silva said.
In Silva, Work found a mom hungry to learn. Before Haven was born, Silva started reading parenting books. She decided to breastfeed her baby and read to Haven in her belly.
Month by month, as Haven grew, Work reminded Silva about her daughter's cognitive development. Silva responded to her daughter's insatiable appetite for learning – they read and played blocks. And when Haven got sick, Silva slept with her baby on her chest so she could hear her breathe.
Both mother and nurse marveled at the results, as Haven started speaking early and often.
While Haven blossomed, Silva still struggled with toxic relationships. One boyfriend was supposed to be with her for Haven's birth, but was getting high all night. He later died in a car wreck. Silva sought solace and encouragement from Work, knowing she could call day or night.
Today, Silva has found a stable, loving husband, who is adopting Haven. Their second daughter just turned two. And Silva is studying to be a nurse, just like the one who changed her life.
