Chicago police discovered that three girls between 7 to 1, who had been alone in the squalor in a flat located South Side without water, heat or electricity. It had been few months since they took bath and the oldest child had never gone to school.

Their grandmother Dlores Anderson, 53 years old said, "I had to cut their hair, it hadn't been done in months, they had sores on their head”.

Anderson credits Chicago police officers with helping her start a new life with her grandchildren. On Monday, they were very happy, health and starting to gain weight.

Her son had lied to her about where the kids had been living, thus she had no idea until police called her. She immediately told officers that she would take custody and bring the children up.

Anderson told, "They are my heart now, I'm going to show them they can be loved and taken care of like children are supposed to".

Taking care of them meant Anderson lost her two jobs. She said, "I keep my faith in God and I believe that things will get better for us and it slowly has," .

The same police officers who discovered the girls living alone have pitched in to help buy Anderson some supplies like beds and diapers. They also arranged their first ever birthday parties.

Anderson said, “These officers, they have been a blessing, when my own family won't help, I have no friends, all I do have right now is God and them and now my grand babies" .

By Prakriti Neogi