DETROIT – The day that 5-year-old Sturlin Brown accidentally shot and killed himself while jumping on a bed was the day that the lives of Stephanie and Alecia Johnson were forever changed.
The two took in the remaining five kids after Sturlin’s parents were taken in custody for child negligence: the oldest eight, the youngest just two months.
“It’s a big responsibility,” said Stephanie. “But when stuff like this happens, you gotta go with it. It’s hard. We’re trying our best. Either way, whatever resources or anything that’s coming our way, we’re accepting and making sure the kids feel accepted and make them feel the Christmas spirit. Just trying to keep them busy and trying to keep their minds going with something positive,” the child’s aunt.”
Read: Parents charged with manslaughter after 5-year-old shoots self on Detroit’s west side
It hasn’t been the best holiday season as it’s been a lot on the family, who already has three kids of their own. The addition makes it nearly 10 kids under one roof just days before Christmas.
“Right now, we’re trying to get something bigger, transportation-wise and housing-wise because now we have eight kids altogether,” Stephanie said.
The obstacles just keep on coming because now there are questions being raised as to whether the two can really care for so many kids in the same home.
“So my goal right now is to, like, try to keep us all together,” said Stephanie’s wife Alecia. “So I’m trying to work at that. They say I need a bigger house and I literally just moved here. I’m trying to figure that out.”
“It’s been crazy, but we’re sticking together and taking it day by day,” Stephanie said.