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Austintown teen gives back to women’s center
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Neighbors | Submitted.Kerrigan McDermott posed next to a Giving Tree for Bella Babies during the fundraiser she put on at Inner Circle Pizza. People could donate baby items under the tree to benefit the Bella Women's Center.
By TIM CLEVELAND
For the vast majority of women, becoming pregnant is a life-changing experience. When Austintown native Kerrigan McDermott found out she was pregnant as a high school freshman, the impact was magnified exponentially.
Finding out she was pregnant when she was 15-years-old in February 2013 could have easily crushed Kerrigan and her family and send her life on a downward spiral. However, she didn’t allow that to happen, as she is still going to school and working part-time at Inner Circle Pizza in Austintown. Now 17, Kerrigan is a junior at McDonald High School, has earned a 3.5 GPA and is a member of the school’s softball team.
On Oct. 30, 2013, Isabella Grace McDermott, a 21 1/2-inch, 6-pound, 2-ounce baby girl, was born in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown.
Kerrigan said her family, in particular her parents Deanna and Leonard, have been very supportive.
“Being a teenage mom is difficult because now you have this other person to take care of, and yet I’m still being taken care of by my parents and family,” she said. “If it wasn’t for my family, I know I would have a much more difficult time being a parent. Between my parents, grandparents, brother and aunt, they help me provide for my daughter so that she is taken care of.
“While I attend school or work, my parents or grandparents take care of her for me, therefore I don’t have to pay any baby sitting fees. Each day is a learning process, and I will continue to learn from my family how to be a good mother to my daughter.”
Kerrigan said that her friends and school have also been very encouraging.
“My friends are all very understanding; they know she comes first and there will be times that I can’t go places with them,” she said. “The school has been great; the teachers are always asking if I need anything.”
Kerrigan also has received support from Bella Women’s Center, a confidential, non-profit medical office, with experienced staff offering no-cost caring and professional support for women with unplanned pregnancies.
Inspired by her daughter and her family’s support, plus the support of Bella Women’s Center, Kerrigan decided to put on a fundraiser to help the organization as it had helped her.
On Dec. 18, Inner Circle Pizza, located at 4520 Mahoning Ave., hosted an event during which people who brought in a flyer that had been distributed would have 15 percent of their order donated to Bella WC. The fundraiser also accepted donations through Dec. 22 of money, plus baby items such as diapers, bottles, wipes, baby food, clothes, blankets and gift cards.
Kerrigan said $150 was raised through the flyer promotion with many baby items donated as well.
Deanna McDermott said she was proud of her daughter wanting to help others with the fundraiser.
“My husband Leonard and I are extremely proud of her,” Deanna said. “She hasn’t let being a teenage mother interfere with her live and is moving forward, full swing ahead. It’s like the old adage ‘take lemons and make lemonade.’
“She has plans for more things to come; currently she is talking about opening a donation center and calling Isabella’s Closet.’ This will be where used items can be brought and stored and then when someone is in need they will be items available for them. She wants to help other teenage and let them know there is hope and help out there for you.”
Kerrigan said she was very grateful to the owners of Inner Circle Pizza for allowing her to stage the fundraiser there.
“I wanted to pay it forward,” she said. “I have seen before where restaurants will offer some of their profits for donation; so with that being said the Stefano family at Inner Circle were gracious to follow suit. And the Giving Tree for Bella Babies was where anyone could donate baby items; then I would give those to the Bella Women’s Center.”