Like my mother, I was always saying, 'I'll fix my life one day.' It became clear when I saw her die without fulfilling her dreams that my time was now or maybe never. Liz Murray cleardaydie Change image and share on social
I'd been living on the streets of New York, and I was sleeping at my friends' houses, sometimes in the subway. Liz Murray friendhouselive Change image and share on social
I've learned in my life that you really don't know what's possible until you're already doing it. Liz Murray havelearnlife Change image and share on social
I have just one black and white photograph left of my mother when she was younger. She was 17 when it was taken and beautiful with wispy curls and eyes that shone like dark marbles. Liz Murray beautifulblackcurl Change image and share on social
Ma was legally blind due to a degenerative eye disease she'd had since birth. This meant she was entitled to welfare, and our lives revolved around the first day of every month when her payment was due. Liz Murray birthblindday share on social
Shortly after I turned 13, Child Welfare took me into care. I was sent to a residential centre where girls with behavioural problems were 'evaluated'. My time there comes back to me now only in flashes of smells, images and sounds. Liz Murray backbehaviouralcare share on social
I had a calling inside of me. I had a sense that when I was going through experiences like living on the streets, losing my parents to AIDS, just having my whole world turned upside-down, there was this feeling inside of me like I was meant for something greater. Liz Murray aidcallexperience share on social
If I want to be a loving, generous, giving person, I'm not going to test the waters. I'm simply going to be a loving, generous, giving person. Liz Murray generousgivelove Change image and share on social
My mother used to sit at the foot of my bed, and she would share her dreams with me. Liz Murray beddreamfoot Change image and share on social
When I grew up in the Bronx, we always had everyone telling us, 'Watch out for the system, watch out for child welfare, watch out, they'll get you,' and I grew up with this feeling of, 'Society is over there and they're dangerous and not safe.' Liz Murray bronxchilddangerous share on social
