2/24/16: Bleeding on the brain. Drug dependent. Unable to eat.

That is how Grace was born. Sent home with the very human who caused that. The doctors say she will never feed herself. She will never talk, walk, or be able to care for herself. She will need round the clock care for her entire life.

 

March 2016 – September 2018: Gone to a foster family.

The most amazing family I have ever met has taken her in as their own. They take her to every doctor’s appointment, upwards of eight a week. They let us be a part of her life and watch her as she grows and improves. She is crawling and responding to her name, something we thought she would never be able to do. She uses a walker to build muscles in her legs, so maybe she will one day walk on her own.

 

September 2018 – present: Happy.

A family in Cleveland has now adopted her. We have received many pictures and her previous foster family says they are the best family for Grace. They have a giant trampoline she loves to crawl on and a swing set seat just for her. She is happy, she is loved, and she is being cared for and that is all that matters to my family and I.

 

12/14/18: Enraged and empowered.

I have wanted to be a cop, a nurse, even a pilot. Grace changed that. I was mad she could be sent home with the people who caused her disabilities. I was mad the mother had a known history of babies with addiction and five other children taken away by Child Protective Services. I was mad because the system failed her for that short time and I know other children are being failed every day. I want to change that. I need to change that. This set me on a new path, the path to become a social worker.

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My previous career options have all been based around helping people, but I have never felt passionately about one as I do with social work. I have job-shadowed people working in criminal defense and it did not call to me. One day I volunteered at a Halloween party for children, specifically with disabilities. My job was at a bounce house, so we would make sure the children stayed safe while inside and help them in and out. I loved being there; I loved seeing the excitement on all of the children’s faces. I loved being able to help them and being a part of their great day. I want to be a social worker so I can help more children. I want to be able to help more children become a part of a loving family. I want more children like Grace to be adopted.

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Grace has become the light of my life and seeing her smile is the greatest joy. She has changed my life and guided me to the career for me. I have found a career that brings me joy and helps others and to me that is the best, needed most career.