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Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Story of "Lisa"

First of all, I want to thank everyone who stopped by and supported me the other day at the A to Z Blog Challenge.  I hope you all have signed up for the challenge and I can't wait to read everyone's posts!

Yesterday I had a "moment" at work.  These moments don't come around very often so I think it calls for a celebration.

I have worked with "Lisa" for the past 10 years.  I have been priveledged to watch her grown from a rebellious teenager (we think) to a blossoming young woman with TONS of potential.

When I met Lisa, she was angry.  She was living in an extremely restrictive facility where she was not able to do anything without supervision.  She rarely ever got to go out anywhere and if she did, she was closely watched.  She didn't have access to the simple things in life that we take for granted every day.  She couldn't take a walk, call a friend, go for a ride, or simply go in her room if she needed to get away from it all.  (Don't we need these moments???)

Somehow she managed to rise above and move to another home where she could be a part of society.  She held a job briefly, has a cell phone, goes shopping, to the movies and has somewhat of a normal social life now.  She has come so far!

Now, here is the problem and the moment that came with it...
Lisa was put into foster care as a young child.  She thought that the family she was taken from were her biological family but they weren't.  She did not find this out until about 2 years ago.  Now can you see why she an angry teenager???  She was moved from place to place until moving to that facility.  By then, she did not trust anyone.

She is trying to update her ID so that she can find employment, attend school, etc. BUT she has no birth certificate.  Noone knows who her parents are, where she was born, how old she really is, or what her name is for that matter.

As we were talking about it yesterday to try and figure out a way to help her, she started telling me about some of the things that she remembers from her childhood.  What a story she has!
All of a sudden she said, "I want to write a book."

What a gift I have been given to work with her and to help her realize her dreams!  If I can foster her desire to pursue her book, can you imagine the stories that she has to tell???  I am so excited for her and I can't wait to be a part of her future!

14 comments:

  1. WOW on Lisa, but it seems that everyone has a paper trail starting at birth. Does she have an SS card? If so, then someone needed a birth certificate to obtain that.(just a suggestion) Lisa has a paper trail too, and what a great idea. Maybe if she starts writing her thoughts, that this will spark memories that will lead her to find the pieces of her life and put them back together. Best wishes for her : )

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  2. Thanks! Unfortunately, she has a false paper trail. The SS card is in the name of the family whom she was taken from, but they are not her biological family. She has a letter from a doctor with an approximate birth date and her name (that name) on it. That used to suffice but restrictions are more harsh now. I have talked to her foster care worker from childhood and there was just no information available then or now.
    Nobody knows where she came from before this family had her. Very sad story!

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  3. And from a trying and confusing childhood, Lisa the trouble teenager and now a young lady, embraces with the help of you, the potential to embrace the magic, the power, the positive therapy, that is writing.
    How empowering for the both of you.
    With respect and kind wishes, Gary

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  4. Thanks Gary. It is a privilege to work with her. She is a very special young lady with tons of potential.

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  5. What a tremendously sad situation. I really hope it can be figured out what her true background is. It sounds like she has come such a long way. I wonder if this isn't a situation where a television show might be interested in helping her track down her true information as a human interest story? Or a member of the local press? I really have no idea how one tracks down someone with a situation like this.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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    1. Hi Shannon. Yes it is a sad story, but it is also thought that it could put her in danger to try and find her family due to the circumstances. The only ones that know who her family is are the ones that took her away and they are either dead or in jail. She has risen above her past and I am so proud of her

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    2. It sounds like she has certainly earned that pride. It being a dangerous situation changes things, as well as options.

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  6. Hi Justine, thanks for stopping by and following!

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  7. That is SO cool! There are no accidents - you were meant to know her for a reason. :)

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  8. Wow.. that is amazing. I'm sure with the right research something can be found out. But what an incredible story that NEEDS to be told.
    All the best with this!!

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    1. Thank you, and thanks for the follow! I agree, her story does need to be told. AND the best is yet to come for her

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  9. It really seems like you have a lot of stories to tell, I'm happy to be your newest follower today! I "met" you through the A-Z Challenge, happy reading and write on!

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    1. Thanks for stopping and following "Lady Blue". I am gearing up for A-Z! I followed back so that I can read your posts too :)

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