Love Is In the Journey

WHAT I BELIEVED to be my conception of the justice system from my childhood to my adulthood was a lesson to be learned not only for myself but for my entire family. I believed the system was to be there for families in their times of need, but it was a far cry from the reality. There are too many victims of many different crimes: murder, greed, elder abuse, disabled abuse, and child abuse. It is these poor defenseless victims who suffer most, not the criminals. The real lesson to be learned is how well we deal with the challenges and obstacles that cross our path, and how we allow them to affect our lives. They can be looked at as negative, or we can take the bull by the horns and move forward in a positive way, refusing to allow the persons involved to walk away without punishment or consequences; we can receive justice for our loved ones. I wish I could say my experiences that involved my son’s life in the system were all positive, but they were not. The truth is, it was hell and back with much pain and suffering and a tremendous amount of grief.

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your degrees, your instructions were more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. (Psalm 119:71–72)

Many times through my life, I asked myself, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I still have no answer. The reality is there is no answer, at least not the one I am looking for. I wrote this book as a way to reach out to the many families who have children in the system with mental and physical disabilities. They need to move forward no matter how hard the system tries to buck them. They must not fail their loved ones, who are exposed and victimized by the very system that is there to protect them. They need to be a major part of the fight to protect our disabled. This is why I needed to write this book: our love ones need our voices! When the system knows you are fighting for the rights of your loved ones, it will keep them on alert. Remember that strength comes in numbers. I must defend my son and continue on my commitment to not let him down.

This book is not a book about hate or revenge. It is a story about the reality of a fallen system. Here is a glimpse into some events that led to my family being involved with the system and the many challenges and obstacles we have experienced on this journey. My wish is to have my son’s story appreciated, and hopefully it will have an impact.

Show me the right path, Oh Lord; Point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. (Psalm 25:4- 5)