From homeless child to CEO - Ex-ward of the State shares gut-wrenching story of survival

Dr Patricia Smith stood before an audience of bright young scholars and supporters, reflecting on a past marked by abandonment, hardship, and an uncertain future.

Abandoned by her parents at a tender age, Smith was raised in a one of Jamaica's child-care facilities. However, she later turned her trials into triumph after she not only climbed the academic ladder but also rose to become CEO of Sweet P Home Care Inc, a nursing home facility in the United States of America.

With raw honesty, Smith shared her painful journey in how she ended up in State care, recounting the moment her father left her behind.

"I ended up in State care because my parents abandoned me and I really hate to talk about it because it just stirs up such negative energy. So many things that I would like to forget but you can't forget your journey. Very rare can I talk about that journey without tearing up," Smith said as she took the uncomfortable walk down memory lane.

The former ward of the State was guest speaker at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) 2024 Educational Achievement Awards held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew on Thursday. Fifty-two children in State care were recognised for outstanding achievement.

"My so-called father had a girlfriend who really liked me, and she came and raised hell. That's how I got some amount of help" she said.

Smith said that her father left her with her grandaunt who she had no relationship with before dropping her off at the woman's doorstep. His girlfriend brought it to the attention of the authorities, and that led to her being placed in State care by a judge.

"I remember going to court like a prisoner, and I would hear her [the girlfriend] screaming, 'You're going to leave her there to die?!' Because the woman who was taking care of me just couldn't. She didn't want me. They just kind of got rid of me and it was really a miracle I didn't die," Smith recounted.

She described a childhood spent running away, living on the streets, and seeking shelter wherever she could find it. "Everybody gave up on me."

"I didn't even know my own danger," she admitted. "I was in bars hanging out until they closed, in the market, in the church--just homeless. Imagine being 10 or 11 years old and not understanding what rape is. I thought it was like a scraping of the skin. I was just homeless."

At 19, her life took a turn when the woman who had once fought for her helped her migrate to the United States.

"I remember going to the embassy. I didn't even understand what I was doing. I walked past a whole lot of people sleeping overnight on the sidewalk. When I walked up, they said, 'Put your passport in that basket.' No interview, nothing. They told me, 'Come back at 12 o'clock.' And there I got a visa."

With determination, she pursued a career in nursing, working her way from an aide to earning a master's and doctorate in nursing sciences. In 2000, she founded Sweet P Home Care, which now employs hundreds of medical professionals in New York City.

In addition to sharing her story with wards of the State, Smith announced a $10 million donation to the CPFSA. She said the money should go towards helping children in State care transition into adulthood, covering education, housing, and vocational training.

"I was really concerned about what happens after they leave, after they age out," she explained. "When I contacted CPFSA and heard they struggle to support these kids beyond 18 years old, I was moved to make this contribution. Because I love to hear success stories. I remember--I am a product of that environment."

CPFSA CEO Laurette Adams-Thomas expressed gratitude on behalf of the agency.

"There are many lives that are going to be transformed, that are going to be blessed by your contribution. I hope that God will continue to bless you and expand your territory."