He should know. As a child growing up in the Greater Ville neighborhood, Dinwiddie, now 27, had lead poisoning. So did his brother, Juron. The boys were in and out of foster care programs. In second grade, while in the Lindbergh schools as part of the city’s desegregation program, Dinwiddie met an angel.

Susan Burney was his teacher. She and her husband, John, who both retired from teaching in 2009, sought to help the boys. They acted as resource foster parents, taking the boys in on some weekends and holidays, helping to provide some stability in life.

“Once I had gained Shaun’s trust, I knew he was going to need adults in his life that could provide consistency, help instill values, and love him,” Burney says.

The couple continue to help the family when they can. They were there when Marshall went into labor with Rashaud. They helped them get the electricity turned back on this month.

But even with such help, the family barely makes it.

“I’ve had good jobs,” Marshall says. “But when you’re a mother, it’s harder. Everything changes. It’s either transportation or child care. It’s the smallest things that are hindering me.”