'Wild child' who gave lifesaving foster mom hell as teen is now desperate to find her— and thank her

At 12, Hannah Smith (@Jubilee4change) entered a shelter after her birth mom failed to raise her safely. She wasn't a typical teenager but rather someone who was burdened with childhood trauma and emotional baggage. Hannah was a "wild, ignorant white child," as she described herself, yet her foster mom, Essie Gilchrist, took her under her care, transforming her completely. In December 2023, Hannah shared a heartfelt post on X, honoring her "Mama Essie" and hoping somebody would help find her, and as expected, the internet delivered and she met her foster mom after 40 years. 

After spending some time in the shelter, Hannah moved to live with Mama Essie, who agreed to take in a deeply disturbed child. "Mama Essie was a Black woman, & I had a Black foster sister, too. A second one came later. She had three of us little hooligans. And oh, what a hooligan I was!" Hannah wrote, recalling how she wasn't a good child and often caused trouble, stealing things or racking up her phone bill to call her boyfriend. "I was a mess & a handful. I eventually ran away & was put back in the shelter & never saw her again. I'm sure I broke her heart," Hannah added.

She said everything she knows about life, whether it's hair, makeup, or dignity and generosity, is a gift from Mama Essie. "She was one of the highest-ranking civilians in the military in the US, female and Black, no less! In the 80s! She had severe eye issues, maybe even a glass eye. She SINGLE PARENTED three hurting foster TEENS," Hannah wrote, adding, "I so want to honor her today with this little public remembrance. I tried to find her and haven't yet. Mama Essie, if you're still with us or peering through the windows of heaven... thank you."

As Hannah's post went viral, she discovered that Mama Essie was alive and living in Stockton, California. After spending years searching for her foster mother, she finally had the opportunity to connect with Gilchrist through a phone call. Two days after her post, Hannah shared another post, updating everyone with the heartfelt news. She wrote, "45 minutes with Essie on the phone last night was amazing. So much I forgot. I've felt like I've been pacing, wandering... I feel my soul stirring again. I know my story helps people. I feel inspired, infused."

Unresolved childhood issues can have long-lasting effects on kids, and it's backed by research. According to a study, children exposed to adverse childhood experiences are at higher risk for negative outcomes, including cancer, liver disease, substance abuse, and depression. In fact, they found evidence that kids as young as 9 can exhibit behavioral problems after exposure to early childhood troubles. Reacting to her story, @cranky_and said, "As a foster carer, this made me well up. I have a tricky 13-year-old boy at the moment who is smart, sassy, and talented, but all he’s showing me right now is rebellion and disrespect. But I also know in ten years he will be a good man in a good place, & it will be worth it.

Another user, @yourpunkmom, said, "My adoptive parents were also foster parents, and while I don’t know where all of the kids are now, the ones I do know have turned out to be steady on their feet after such traumatic beginnings. I am so happy you found your mama." Echoing the sentiments, @jahnanair commented, "Speaking as someone knee-deep in developmental psych studies, I want to tell you — YES! One person can be the literal lifesaver for traumatized kids. We don’t need to foster or adopt to be that person. Just watch the children; watch them, and know them, and acknowledge them. It matters."

You can follow Hannah Smith (@Jubilee4change) on X to read about her take on trauma, and LGBTQIA+ among other things.

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