A woman who was sold for drugs as a newborn shared her harrowing life story in a heartbreaking viral video that has been viewed more than 4 million times.
Kat Lively, 20, a podcaster currently living in Los Angeles, was sold for drugs by her parents to a “random couple” in Colorado in October 1993 when she was just three months old.
“I have experienced and navigated so much at a young age, but I rose from the ashes,” Lively shared Newsweek.
Her biological parents then informed Lively’s grandparents about her, claiming that she was “gone” and that they did not know where she was going. That prompted the grandparents to launch a large-scale hunt to rescue the newborn.
‘I was born in 1993 to two people who should never have had a child. They couldn’t even take care of a mouse,” she said in the video.
Kat Lively, 20, shared a video of her moving life story on TikTok and has already been viewed more than 4 million times
As a newborn, Lively was sold by her parents to a “random couple” in exchange for drugs. Her grandparents, Ron and Kathy Walters (pictured), soon adopted her and raised her
Lively was found in December by her grandfather, Ron Walters, after he drove from California to Denver, “camped out in his van” and informed police about his granddaughter.
The newborn was found in the home of the couple who trafficked drugs for her. She was then placed in the care of her grandparent and moved to California. She said she called her grandparents her mother and father.
“My grandparents are the only parents who deserve the title of mom and dad,” she said.
After he found her and brought her home for Christmas Eve, her grandparents legally adopted her in 1999.
Between the ages of 11 and 12, Lively was struck by two unimaginable losses, when her grandmother died and her adoptive brother, who was technically her uncle, died suddenly.
In another video on her TikTok, Lively said her adoptive brother died at the age of 22, when she was only 11.
“While this was happening, my grandmother was in the hospital receiving a double lung transplant at UCLA in Los Angeles,” she said.
“So she had two brand new lungs and two days after her surgery, while she was recovering, she got the call that her son, her son, had passed away.”
A year later, Kathy, Lively’s “mother,” suffered lung transplant rejection and became very ill. She died when Lively was 12 years old.
Lively said she “revolted” after their deaths and was “angry all the time” as a teenager.
She moved away at the age of 16 and traveled around the country with other family members.
Lively has produced her own podcast, “Calling Old Hollywood,” in which she interviews “legends” from film, TV and music history in a “sentimental deep dive.”
Lively is seen with her grandfather, whom she called her father. When he found out he had a granddaughter, he drove from California to Colorado to save her
“People always ask me, ‘How did you not get into drugs or crime, or how did you not go the other way?’ And the answer is very simple: I was sold for drugs when I was three months old.
“There’s something I’ve done mentally that’s keeping me away. I have made a promise to myself that I will not walk down the dark paths,” she added.
Her grandfather died in September and she has used her experience with loss and grief to create an online presence to share with others.
In an Instagram post dedicated to him, Lively said: ‘Saturday the 23rd my best friend, my father took his last breath as I sat next to his bed holding his hand and singing one of his and mine’s favorite songs:’ God only knows ‘about the Beach Boys.’
“He instilled self-respect, morals, integrity, stubborn ambition and the conviction to never settle,” she added.
“The love of my grandfather, my adoptive father, saved my life after my surreal arrival into the world,” Lively told Newsweek.
While she has been moved since his death, Lively has tried to shift her focus to using her story to help others.
“My mission now, sharing my story on social media and building an online community, is to help and inspire other people.”
In her adult life, Lively met her biological parents, but admitted that she realized she “wasn’t missing much” after the couple visited her several times.
She said her mother was told she could stay at a luxury rehab facility in Malibu for free as a favor from a friend.
“And she refused. She refused. So if that doesn’t tell you what I don’t miss, that’s what I have to say about that.’
In her adult life, Lively met her biological parents, but admitted she realized she “wasn’t missing much” after the couple visited her several times
Lively is seen in a selfie with actor Eric Roberts, whom she interviewed for her podcast
Lively is pictured with some of the actors from the hit 1970s sitcom M*A*S*H
It is unclear what substances her biological parents used.
According to her social media accounts, Lively is the host of her podcast called “Calling Old Hollywood,” where she interviews “legends” from film, TV and music history in a “sentimental deep dive.”
In her few videos posted to TikTok, she has shared her story, given advice to others, and detailed her career. She also has a YouTube account where she posts her podcast episodes.
AL.com described Lively as a “sucker for an origin story,” who is more interested in the rich history of film.
She is pictured with well-known actors such as Eric Roberts and Loretta Swit, Jimmie Walker and Bob Eubanks from the hit 1970s sitcom M*A*S*H.