Amber Portwood, the former Teen Mom star currently serving a five-year sentence for a December drug arrest, will spend Thanksgiving at the the Rockville Correctional Facility without her daughter Leah, says Portwood’s brother, Shawn.
“Amber is doing okay. Her spirits are good, but she will not get to see Leah for Thanksgiving,” Shawn told Celebuzz.
“Leah has never visited her in prison,” he added. “Amber is trying to keep herself busy by doing jobs while she is locked-up, like laundry duty.”
Shawn adds that Leah’s father, Gary Shirley, won’t be visiting Amber on Thursday, either.
“He is too busy with other stuff and he will be looking after Leah,” he said.
Still, Amber won’t spent Thanksgiving completely alone.
“Both my mom [Tonya] and grandmother [Marilyn] will visit her, so she will get to spend time with some family members,” Shawn revealed.
“It is not the best situation but she is trying to make the most of it,” he continued. “The holidays are always tough for people who are in prison but Amber is remaining positive.”
The former reality star began her hefty sentence in June, when she opted to serve time instead of entering a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program.
In a recent interview with Dr Drew Pinsky, Portwood admitted that she had not been a good mom to three-year-old daughter Leah.
“When I was in treatment, I wasn’t getting anything out of it. I was doing drugs and I just didn’t care,” she revealed.
“When I was with Gary and Leah, I wasn’t part of the family,” she continued. “I don’t think I was a terrible person; I just know I can be better than what was.
“I haven’t been there for Leah — that’s terrible enough. She needs more and deserves more. But I will come out of this a better person and a better mom. This is my last chance – you can’t go any lower than prison unless you’re faced with death.”
– Cliff Renfrew
