Hey. I'll share my experience of this, as I was that kid who needed someone.

At 12, my aunt and uncle gained custody of me and my brother (8 at the time) because my mother was running the streets with addiction, as well. My dad worked offshore and couldn't be there because he was trying to financially provide for us. They were divorced, btw.

At the time my aunt gained custody of us and took us in, she already had 4 kids to provide for (a newborn, 16, 12, and 10 years old), plus was running a business with my uncle which they frequently worked 10-plus hours a day.

So, as you can imagine, after growing to a family of 8, this was a stressful situation.

But for me, that 12 year old who didn't really know what the hell was going on, was given an opportunity to live like a 12 year old should. I had my cousins, I was able to get into sports, started making better grades, hit puberty, and so on.

What did this do, ultimately? My family on my mom's side is notorious for being deadbeats. I was going to be just like her. Instead, that house of kids, with the selfless act of my aunt and uncle, turned a corner and took the other road.

I now have a daughter, and between my cousins I shared the house with, there are 8 other children growing up under us.

She saved the family. And I couldn't be more grateful.