The absurdity of it all could easily make you believe that this is a work of fiction….
Unfortunately, it’s not.
If anyone has experienced the devastating loss of a child, you’d certainly understand where I am coming from. In addition to my own personal loss, my family lost two little girls at the hands of the Allegan County, Michigan Court System. I have since used that loss to dedicate myself to treating all of the children I work with as that lost piece of hope. I strive for students to feel respected, heard, and cared for. This is especially true for the children in my family, and that was the catalyst of 4 years of hell and misery.
My Tiny Best Friend, as I think of her, was a kind and caring child that made you melt with a single smile. Since her older sister was her father’s shadow, TBF was getting restless at grandma and grandpa’s house, so I would happily go outside and play whatever she felt like doing. There was playing basketball, playing pretend, and any silly games she could think up. I always looked forward to the new activity she’d have when she came to visit.
On Memorial Day 2020, there wasn’t a big smile or fun game planned. My Tiny Best Friend was much more somber and quieter that day and it had me concerned. She shared that her maternal grandmother had grabbed her arm and squeezed it until her arm turned purple. This was unnerving, but it was her demeanor that was most upsetting. This girl that lights up a room with her smile could hardly get herself to move around. Later that night, she came over and gave me a hug, squeezing as tight as she could, as long as she could, and it shattered my heart. I asked her how she was doing, and the response was simply “bad.”
A 7-year-old child shouldn’t have to feel completely hopeless; it just isn’t acceptable. With this happening during the peak of COVID, there was no school official for her to go to for help. However, I worked in her school district, and all I could think to do was file a Mandated Report. I figured that this situation would be looked at by people responsible for children’s safety, and if nothing else, ensure she was safe with this person.
And so, this whole insane story begins: Loss of custody, arrests, more child abuse and learning just how corrupt the Allegan County legal system truly is. This has been a relentless battle, with my willingness to put myself in harm’s way, because of the emotionally crippling fact, that I had failed my Tiny Best Friend.
Part 2, coming soon.
