Progress

I was sitting in Ben's room, taking turns with him building blocks at his little table.

"Your turn," I said to him.

"Your turn," he mimicked.

"Ben, look at me." His blue eyes met mine. "Listen, and wait," I told him. "Your turn - you go." I put my finger to my mouth as if to say "shh" and Ben was quiet. He then took his turn.

"You.." I prompted.

"Your turn!" he squealed. I giggled. He did too.

I put the blocks away, then asked him, "what's your name?"

"Ben Donaldson."

I lifted him up out of his chair and threw him up in the air until he was laughing uncontrollably. “Yay!” I shouted. “You said your FULL name!”

I heard Lisa laugh from the other room. Then we all laughed together. Then I remembered. Time was ticking.

What, I thought... what was I going to do without this child in my life?

After The Fact

I continued my time with Ben, and couldn't believe the progress he was making. Throughout the next couple of weeks, Sally would call, but I wouldn't answer - just as I was advised to do. Ben never failed to shock me with things he knew, his eagerness to learn, his desire for an interaction with me and the rest of the world.

He blossomed into a happy, cheerful, playful child -- it was almost hard to tell he had a diagnosis.
But yet, we continued to work, and he continued to strive. He flew through his programs, and started speaking three and four word utterances. His new programmer, Janet, did an exceptional job keeping his book up to date. I never did tell her though, that Ben and I did our own thing together. That we had a special bond. That I cared so much for him. At work I did my job; it just meant so much more to me than just a job.

The weeks flew by, and summer approached. I started getting nervous. I knew that when Ben turned three, our time would be up. What would happen then?

My Sista's Back

FYI: My sister has finally started posting on her blog again. It's "flutist" on my blogroll. She changed the website but I now updated it on my link list. I invite you all to check out her blog!

~ Psyched

The Revealing Phone Call (Part 2)

It all made sense now. Every last bit. But how could I have not seen it before??

I think I did, though... on some weird level. Sally never sat right with me, but domestic violence? Images flooded my mind, of Ben watching fights.

Knives…yelling…throwing…threatening...

I was scared.

I cleared my throat and found my words.

“I am so glad Ben is safe now.” (Was that all I could manage to spit out??)

“He is, although you are not allowed to answer any of Sally’s calls. She will try and get hold of you, as she has done with us.”

“I won’t,” I replied.

“This is serious, Mindy. No one is to hear of Ben’s progress but Lisa and her husband.”

“Okay.” I managed to choke out.

And with that, I hung up the phone.

Anyone Can Make A Difference

Change The World! http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

Alone Inside Themselves

Trapped in a world - So misunderstood

The warmth in the eyes - Says all that it should

Although sometimes silent - Express loud and clear

Their needs, wants, desires - A friendly face to be near

Their shape has no preference - Nor age young or old

To teach them to triumph - Your heart they will hold

Someday perhaps science - Will bless us with cure

Till then we will nurture - May our patience endure

The Revealing Phone Call

I returned home in a great mood after my first session back with Ben. As I pulled my car into the driveway, I was still smiling, and all I thought about was how happy I was to see him in a safe and loving environment.

I walked into my door, and before I had a chance to even put my things down, the phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi, may I please speak with Mindy?" the woman on the other end asked.

"Speaking," I responded. "How may I help you?"

"Mindy, this is Anita; I'm calling from the Department of Social Services.

My stuff dropped to the floor, and I plopped into a chair.

“How can…um, how can I help you?” I stammered.

“Do you have a few minutes?” She asked. “I really need to speak to you regarding Ben Holmes.”

My heart started to beat fast. I told Anita that I had all the time in the world. She proceeded to tell me that Sally had been harassing the department for information regarding Ben, and that I was not allowed to answer the phone if she called me. Of course I had asked why, but didn’t expect this response:

“Mindy, Ben was witnessing domestic violence in the home. We pulled him and Emily out as soon as we were privy to this information. Sally, his prior foster mother has been lying. Apparently she hid it quite well.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.