Sophia Grinnion was 18 years old when she gave birth. But she was determined to give her son a childhood that he could look back on with happy memories. This is because Sophia’s own upbringing was painful, depressing and almost lethal.

“Life was horrible as a child. I can’t remember any happy times. My parents argued over me a lot. Mum would stick up for me whereas Dad would punish me for the tiniest things.”

Sophia’s mum couldn’t cope with the abuse she received from her father so she separated from Sophia’s dad. When Sophia reached 12 years old it was decided that she would live with her father who was better off financially. As Sophia got older the beatings got worse.

The worst beating

After an horrendous incident where he beat her so badly, Sophia ended up in hospital and her father was cautioned. Sophia was taken into care for one year before being sent back to live with her father at the age of 16. “I was very careful, trying not to do anything wrong but after 6 months it started again. My mistake was answering back.

“I felt physically sick when I saw my dad and even suggested to somebody that they should kill him.”

Sophia moved from hostel to hostel. She also started dating and things seemed to be looking up. He was a drug dealer but looked after her. She didn’t want to lose that love and so would do anything he asked - she even became a carrier of the deadly crack cocaine for him. Then she got pregnant and felt as though her life had ended.

Sophia felt alone and sank into depression. She even had thoughts of killing the unborn baby. Sophia eventually moved to a hostel for pregnant women.

“I was alone in a relative’s house one day and decided that I would jump off the balcony to end my life. I was sure that nobody would miss me - except for my mum who knew about the abuse I suffered.”

Sophia started scrolling through her mobile phone to see if she would come across any names of people that might miss her. She got to the name Margaret who was an assistant at the HelpCentre.

My last hope

“I dialled the number and started crying down the phone saying that I was going to kill myself.” She was advised to go straight to the HelpCentre in Peckham.

“After receiving support, guidance and prayers at the UCKG I felt that there was hope. The pastors and assistants kept on telling me that I could make it.”

Now three years on, Sophia is a changed person. She no longer has suicidal thoughts and depression. She has her own flat and is full of love for her 3-year-old son.

Another great change in Sophia was her ability to forgive her dad. After three years of no contact with him, she knocked on his door to tell him that she had forgiven him.

“He broke down in tears and apologised to me. We’ve put the past behind us and he’s a wonderful grandfather. Now after ten years, my parents are also on good terms with each other. I’m really happy, I feel renewed every morning.”

Sophia Grinnion