'God gave me all of that': Once living in hotel room, Georgia mother of 8 gets home of her own
A Georgia mother who was living out of a hotel while one of her children battled kidney failure is celebrating after finally getting a house of her own.
The mother of eight posted the update Sunday and said she now owns a third-row vehicle and recently signed a lease for a five bedroom, three bathroom home.
Ebon Sledge said after her family’s story was shared online, an “overwhelming” amount of supportive messages came rushing in. Some people wanted to offer money while others said they could help her find housing.
The organization that helped her, Open Doors, is an Atlanta-based group that helps people find stable housing. Cherie DeBose, programs coordinator at Open Doors, reached out to Sledge to help.
“I told her the area I was looking for, the price range I wanted and what I wanted in a home,” Sledge told Paste BN Monday afternoon. “She found some wonderful people who had the perfect house … everything I could’ve asked for – a five bedroom, three bath in a cul-de-sac.”
Sledge was able to find her own vehicle searching online, she said.
“It’s a Dodge Journey, three rows like I needed,” she said. “The kids love it. There’s lots of space for them.”
She owes it all to manifestation and the generosity of community members, she said.
Sledge’s family has been plagued by health issues and poverty for the past few years, she said. Her daughter J’Adore was diagnosed with kidney failure in November of 2020.
The little girl was sick often and vomited at least once a month. Her mother took her to the doctor in November of 2020 and found out she needs a kidney transplant, then in January 2022, the family was evicted.
Due to the size of their household, finding assistance was difficult, Sledge previously told Paste BN.
In June, the family was living in a hotel room in Griffin, Georgia, about 53 miles southeast of Atlanta. Sledge paid hundreds of dollars a week for the hotel room and a rental car.
Previously: Living in hotels, with a child on dialysis, a Georgia mother makes plea for help
Sledge also had to drive over an hour away multiple times a week because her daughter, J’Adore, was on dialysis. The mother juggled all of this while working as a cook and driving for Uber and Lyft when she had a car.
Someone encouraged her to reach out to news outlets to share her story and she also started a GoFundMe to ask for help. The community showed up for her.
On May 31, she shared a Facebook post where she spoke the home into existence, manifesting a large home and vehicle to accommodate her large family.
“God gave me all of that with an additional bedroom and bathroom,” she said Sunday, thanking her social media supporters as well. She also shared photos of her new car and home.
She’s currently working part-time at two jobs, she said Monday.
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What’s the update on J’Adore’s kidney transplant?
Sledge said the family is accepting applications for potential donors to apply so J’Adore can have a kidney transplant.
J’Adore previously had medical issues to work on before she could get a transplant. Her diet needed improvements and now that the family is in a home of their own, Sledge will be able to ensure she’s eating things that are better for her.
“She is doing really, really well,” Sledge said. “Outside of getting a kidney, you wouldn't even be able to tell that anything is wrong. Other than that, she’s a normal kid.”
Once the 10-year-old receives a kidney transplant, she’ll need two to three months to heal at home and go to hospital visits, her mother said.
The family is also leaving for a trip to Disney World this week as part of the Make-A-Wish program.
"I'm just super excited," Sledge said. "Everything turned around in 30 days ... The kids have been excited about everything. I think this might be their best summer yet. I can't wait to get back, to fully move and I can't wait to decorate, get some furniture in there and just try to live a good life."
The family’s GoFundMe has a $100,000 goal and so far, they’ve raised over $67,000.
Keep up with the family’s GoFundMe at www.tinyurl.com/JAdoreGA. They can also be found on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/JAdoreFB.
Kidney donors can look into applying at www.emorylivingdonor.org.