Success Stories

Client - Terrell Conn Fleming

Program – Black Infant Health
Location – Richmond

When she was 23 years old, Terrell Conn Fleming was a mother of three children (ages one, two and three) and had recently separated from her husband.  She was in college part time and was working full time.  Due to the separation and subsequent loss of income, she applied for welfare and in the process, lost her job due to the time it took to get on welfare. During this difficult time of transition in her life, she was able to find another job and eventually reconciled with her husband.  Then she got pregnant again. 


It was at this point that she met Angelique McDade, Family Advocate with Brighter Beginnings Black Infant Health (BIH) program in Richmond.  Terrell’s mother encouraged her to contact the BIH program, though Terrell was hesitant because of her bad experience with welfare. “Programs like this are hard to come across, where people really care and aren’t judgmental.  From my very first time in the program, it was so positive, I didn’t mind keeping in touch and opening up.”

“Angelique met with me during my whole pregnancy; she’d sit and listen and visit with me.  She’d help me keep my WIC appointments and stay on top of all my doctor visits.  She even helped me with decisions about work and school.  She was helpful and professional and worked with me to keep things in perspective.  Angelique called me one Saturday and said she had something for me. I stopped by the office and she had books for my other children.  I was so surprised and pleased.  No one works on Saturday, but she was there.”

After she had her healthy baby boy (named Justice), Terrell went back to college full time and kept her job at State Farm Insurance.  Through BIH, she learned that she was eligible for disability and for the first time, took six weeks off prior to her delivery and was able to stay home longer and take care of her new baby and her three other children.  “This program has been a blessing to our household; with my husband in sales, our income varies from month to month, so all the resources that came through the BIH program were really needed.”

“This has been the happiest experience in pregnancy and childbirth out of all my four children.”  Terrell didn’t have any complications during birth, and she says that Justice is her healthiest child, that he is happy and appears to be advancing more than other children. She also breast-fed him longer than the other children.

“What I appreciate most is having someone to talk to, even though I have friends and family, this is different. To have someone concerned about my health and the health of my child and to follow up with me at every point – I needed that, and it really helped.”

During the past five years, Terrell has come up through the ranks in the insurance industry to become a super star in her business as well as a “super mom” at home.  Now with five children and a busy schedule, she is doubly thankful for the support she received from Brighter Beginnings that enabled her to kick start her career. “I want to contribute to Brighter Beginnings so other women and families can benefit from the awesome services. I know I have a lot on my plate, but I look forward to becoming more hands-on and to give something back so that Brighter Beginnings can receive the funds it needs for additional programs.”

Link to:
http://www.farmersagent.com/tfleming/