Photo Courtesy of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
OWN's new series
Trouble Next Door highlights the plight of those living in crisis. But in the spirit of "it takes a village," their neighbors come to the rescue. Each episode features one family trying to overcome an obstacle. There's a disabled mother trying to raise her son with Asperger's, another family with teenage daughters abusing drugs and a single mom helping her kids move forward after divorce. The show inspires us all to take a look at the people next door and lend a helping hand. And it proves the power of neighbors helping neighbors.
Trouble Next Door premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Over the past two years, our family has faced tremendous loss. Life changed as we knew it. We lost my younger sister, Anna, after a two year battle with Hodgkin's Disease which included two stem cell transplants - - the last attempt using my stem cell, as we were the perfect match. Coming back from Anna's death was tremendously difficult and heart wrenching. My sister's husband, Brian, did his best to help his children move forward after their life altering loss. Suddenly and without warning, in February 2012 Brian suffered a massive heart attack and died. Less than a week after his death, I moved my then 14 year old niece, Madison, to Georgia and began the process of Guardianship. We were both honored and blessed to participate in OWN's Trouble Next Door. Through our experience we not only bonded as a family, our family grew with the love and out pouring of support from our neighbors and local community. This was an incredible experience for all. I look forward to sharing our story with you.
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