Hope for the Sanders family: Mum, kids head to Canada

After spending sleepless nights on the beach worrying over what lies ahead, Olivia Sanders now has hope for the future after leaving Cayman with her kids to complete her studies.

Sanders, who spoke with the Cayman Compass Tuesday from Denver International Airport on her way to Edmonton, Canada with her son William, 2, and daughter Adelia, 3, said she was able to scrape together enough money for the airfare.

With the support she received since moving to the beach and a big helping hand from her grandmother, Sanders said she was able to purchase the tickets to Canada.

“We also went door to door to do odds and ends… and [sold] fish to get money,” she said, adding that when her grandmother heard her pleas and saw her kids’ condition, she stepped in to help.

Though she said she is relieved the beach is behind them, it is a bittersweet move.

“If I’m being honest, I’m very emotional and feel like a piece of me is missing because my husband [is not with us] but we both agree this is for the better,” the expectant mum said.

Sanders said everything happened so quickly because she needed to return as soon as possible to be able to graduate Reeves College in Alberta later this year with her medical office administration degree.

She said her course administrator said she needed to be back at school by 5 May to get her practicum sorted to complete her final course.

On Monday, the Cayman Compass ran a story on the Sanders’ family plight following a recent interview at their tent which they pitched on a public beach after having to leave their Needs Assessment Unit-sponsored Prospect flat.

The family of four left that residence due to issues with black mould and the landlord.

Sanders said, looking back, she knew she did what was best for her family, but she was disappointed that as a young Caymanian she did not get the support she needed to keep her family together.

“All I’ve ever done is take care of my children,” she said.

Social media attacks ‘hurtful’

She also expressed sadness at the level of hate she received on social media after she came forward seeking help due to the desperate situation the young family found themselves in.

“I was really upset last night. I could not sleep. I’m sitting here at the airport… I cannot sleep or anything,” she said, adding that she could understand why some people become suicidal from cyber bullying.

She said she has been harassed and has received a barrage of negative messages.

“People think I actually don’t do anything, that I just sit down or [my husband Richard did]… No, that’s not how it works because you still need some type of work permit or something,” she said, adding that people suggested that Richard should take work ‘under the table’.

“‘That’s illegal. How are you supposed to survive?” she said.

However, she said she has also received positive feedback.

Richard, who is still living on the beach, said parting with his family was hard.

“As a man I can face my own problem in life with God,” he said, adding that he too was displeased with the attacks levelled against himself and his wife.

Now that the beach is behind her, Sanders said she can finish her degree at Reeves and hopefully be reunited with her husband soon.

She said she is relying on the support of relatives in Canada to look after her kids while she finishes her studies, but once she finds work she will pay for the childcare.

Sanders said they would still need the community’s support as she tries to get back on her feet.

“This is the next step on the road [to] success for my little family. I just have to keep pushing myself and hold on a little longer. Everything will start to get better, we just have to take it day to day,” she said.

For information on how to donate to this family or others in need, go to the Acts of Random Kindness website.