tw: dead-beat parents, alcoholism, drugs/overdose, abandonment
[name_m]Andrew[/name_m] [name_m]Keith[/name_m] Rudgear (24) is Sienna’s boyfriend. The two met at an animal shelter where [name_f]Sienna[/name_f] was working when [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] came in to adopt his younger puppy, Moo. After she helped him choose a puppy, he asked her to go out for coffee, and they found out they went to the same college. [name_f]Sienna[/name_f] also fell in love with Andrew’s other puppy, [name_f]Dottie[/name_f], as well as Moo – [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] lovingly jokes that she only got together with him for the dogs. [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] & [name_f]Sienna[/name_f] have been dating for 2 years now, and they are planning to move in together soon.
[name_m]Andrew[/name_m] grew up in a highly toxic household. After his dad died of an overdose when [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] was 6 years old, his mom walked out on him and his 2 year old sister. Police found out and they went to live with their Aunt [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and Uncle [name_u]Scott[/name_u]. [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] loved his aunt and uncle, became very close with them, and found his love for animals through his aunt and uncle’s cats, [name_f]Perla[/name_f] & [name_u]Coco[/name_u]. After 2 years with [name_f]Betty[/name_f] & [name_u]Scott[/name_u], [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] and his sister were put back in the care of their mother, much to the disappointment of [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_u]Scott[/name_u], [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], & Andrew’s little sister. Andrew’s mom had started dating a toxic guy named [name_m]Chip[/name_m] who hated [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] and his sister. [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] would find wine bottles in closets, buckets, desk drawers, anywhere the kids wouldn’t find them. He would protect his sister from them. The two kids weren’t allowed to call Aunt [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and Uncle [name_u]Scott[/name_u], which angered [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] so much. When he was 10, Mom and [name_m]Chip[/name_m] had a baby girl, Andrew’s half-sister. [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] felt that it was completely his responsibility to protect his half-sister. 3 more half-siblings came after her, 2 boys and another girl. [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] and his biological sister took care of their 4 half-siblings and kept a close watch on them.
Aunt [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and Uncle [name_u]Scott[/name_u] continued to help the kids out, and they provided [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] with money to go to college. They’d been saving for [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] and his sister. [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] was hesitant to take it, but finally realized that if he went to college, he’d be out of his home and could help his younger siblings better. He was the first of his immediate family to go to college, and is studied in Social Work, so he can help other kids around the world. His sister is now in college, and the two of them continue to protect and take care of their little siblings. His oldest half-sister is now 14, and she’s taking care of her 6 and 5 year old brothers and 3 year old sister. With [name_f]Sienna[/name_f], Aunt [name_f]Betty[/name_f], & Uncle Scott’s help, they are trying to get legal custody of their half-siblings. It’s hard, but they are strong.