KixforkidzFund.com

Mark's Story

"I had a difficult childhood. I was born prematurely with a damaged pituitary gland, which affected my mental and physical development. I struggled with motor deficiencies and a speech impediment and was placed in special education classes in school. I later became the first growth hormone therapy patient in New Hampshire as a teenager.

My parents were both drug addicts and I was born addicted to heroin. My father died from an overdose when I was about 4 years old. After my father died, we moved around a lot spending time in New Jersey and New York. Sometimes my mother abandoned me and my siblings at a homeless shelter where I was physically abused. My mother dated several men during the time and some of her boyfriends physically abused me. My mother was HIV+ and died of AIDS when I was 9 years old.

After my mother died, I went to live with my grandparents in Seabrook, NH. I started lashing out as I got older. I received a Children in Need of Services (CHINS) petition in 1991 when I was around 14 years old. The state then sent me to several private juvenile facilities, including the Chase Home, Midway Shelter, the Institute for Family and Life Learning, Wediko and Somersworth Group Home. I received great care at these placements.

At age 15, I entered the youth correctional system within the New Hampshire Youth Development Center (YDC) and the New Hampshire Youth Detention Services (YDSU). This was a very different experience than what I experienced in the group home environments. Here, I experienced solitary confinement for days or weeks at a time without cause and the unnecessary use of force. I was choked to unconsciousness by a staff member, kicked from behind by a counselor causing me to fall and hit my head. I was sexually assaulted. I experienced unnecessary restraints such as straight-jacket for extended periods. Due to these experiences, I am currently involved in a lawsuit with the State of New Hampshire.

I wasn't a criminal. I was a kid who was upset about his parents' deaths. I want kids to know that it's not ok to be abused physically or sexually. I am a survivor. Many people knew this abuse was happening and did nothing.

Because of what I went through, I understand these kids and I care; and I want to give back to the homes that didn't abuse me. I want to give back in the hopes that these kids don't end up suffering like I did." - Mark DiPaolo