Ravneet’s Story: Overcoming Adversity with Love, Hope, and Courage

Ravneet Anand is a devoted mother of two boys, balancing the joys and challenges of raising her family largely on her own. Despite the struggles, hardships, and challenges, her story is a testament to her remarkable strength, courage, and determination.

As a single mother of two young boys, aged nine and four, Ravneet’s life centers around her children and her dog, who will turn 2 in October ’25. Her youngest son has special medical needs - he was diagnosed with a heart condition and leukemia shortly after birth. While he is now in remission, his medical needs require constant care as he relies on a feeding tube and many hospital visits. With the help of therapy and round-the-clock attention, he continues to make progress.

Her children typically spend four days with her and three days with her ex, whom she separated from in March 2023 due to domestic violence. She had already stopped working to care for her younger son’s increasing medical needs and visits to numerous specialists like oncologists, cardiologists, and neurologists. And, now faced with mounting medical bills, an abusive ex, and limited support, she had to face yet another challenge: homelessness. She found herself without a home as her son was being discharged from the hospital on June 28th. With her lease ending shortly after and limited financial or emotional support from her ex, she moved temporarily to Los Angeles, where she relied on her family and support network. Her children’s lives were upended by trauma, separation, and lack of a stable home. So, Ravneet did the best she could for her boys, returning to Dallas so her 9-year-old could be closer to his school, friends, and teachers, providing him with much-needed stability as he adjusted to the new reality of his parents living apart.

In the absence of a steady income or job, finding a stable home for Ravneet and her boys was a daunting challenge. Family members stepped in to help, co-signing leases and loans. Meanwhile, Ravneet took on a variety of odd jobs to make ends meet and support her family: babysitting, cooking meals, caring for the elderly, to name a few. But at the heart of it all, Ravneet never lost sight of her passion. Driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, she boldly switched careers and enrolled in nursing school to become a pediatric nurse. During this journey, she was supported financially by a domestic violence agency, which supported her with tuition and guidance as she navigated the complexities and financial pressures of the American education system.

One of the most common challenges in single motherhood is juggling multiple responsibilities. Ravneet’s situation was amplified as she had to balance nursing school, therapy, medical appointments, and caring for two young children. The mental and financial toll this has taken on her and her family is unimaginable. Yet, through it all, she credits her family and support network for helping her stand. She is supported by her mother and her aunt, who regularly visit, and her close network of friends who sustain her emotionally and mentally. Therapy also played a vital role, both for Ravneet and her older son, helping them process complex psychological trauma and navigate the difficult emotions of separation and societal stigma, especially within their close-knit community.

When I asked Ravneet what brings her happiness and how she defines success as a single mother, her answer was simple yet deeply moving: it’s the joy of seeing her boys greet her each day with wide smiles, warm hugs, and laughter. As simple as this may sound, it is a reminder that for single mothers, the biggest joys in life often stem from the close-knit bond they share with their children and the resilience they develop through their journey. Professionally, Ravneet is proud of the direction her career is taking and her progress in nursing school. 

She emphasized the importance of community and mental health resources for single mothers, especially those raising children with special needs. There is much that we as a community can do to support single mothers. Ravneet’s message emphasizes the need for society to be less judgmental, to listen and offer kindness, and to celebrate the hard work that single mothers do every day. Her involvement with Helping Hands for Single Mothers (HHSM) was invaluable, as they provided crucial support during a time of dire need. They connected her with others who have been through similar struggles and could empathize with her, while also offering resources to ease her financial stress and emotional burdens.

As a single mother, Ravneet’s hope for the future reflects both her strength of character and the grief and suffering she has endured. She expressed her wish to raise kind, humble, and respectful sons who would appreciate the opportunities life has to offer them. Despite the challenges of co-parenting with an abusive and unsupportive ex, particularly concerning the medical needs of her special needs son, she remains determined to give her boys a happy, healthy childhood and to be a better version of herself. Additionally, balancing a demanding nursing school schedule while securing babysitters for her young children, managing concerns about her income, and supporting her family’s needs was no easy feat for Ravneet. Her story is a powerful reminder of the ongoing need to expand support, tools, and resources for single moms navigating difficult challenges, highlighting just how vital the work of organizations like HHSM truly is.

Through all these setbacks, Ravneet’s message to single mothers facing adversity is powerful: keep going, be resilient, find joy in the little things, and be grounded in kindness. She also encourages single mothers to seek help and support whenever possible and to prioritize their mental health and emotional well-being.  Ravneet credits a lot of her strength to the organizations and the people who have uplifted her along the way, including Catholic Charities, Hope’s Door, Helping Hands for Single Mothers, and the Plano Police Department. While our conversation moved me to tears, her journey stands as a powerful and humble testament to the strength of single mothers everywhere. Her story and her commitment to creating a better future for her boys encourages us all to reflect on how we can better support and uplift single mother communities, offering compassion and empathy to those on similar paths - reminding us that with the right resources and community, one can find strength and hope even in the darkest times.