My grandmother stepped in when I needed her. I stepped up for her later. The author took care of her grandmother as she got older. Courtesy of the author My grandmother stepped in when my parents couldn't raise me. She became my source of stability, love, and encouragement. I later became her caregiver and advocate in her final years. "Want to make a Mother's Day card for Grandma Marion?" my father asked. At 5, I was sad that my mom didn't live with us. But thankfully, my paternal grandmother came to visit often. While most kids drew pictures of their mom, dad, and siblings, my pictures were of my father, my grandma, and my cat Plato. The days I knew Grandma Marion was coming, I'd pick out a special outfit to dress up for her. She fought to have guardianship of me Divorced, she raised my father and his brother in New York, working as an accountant. Following her retirement in the 90s, she took care of me, too. After both of my parents lost custody , I was placed into foster care — an experience I hated.…