Derek,
I was at the assembly today at Meadowbrook high school. I wanted to tell you that your story personally hit home to me. You shared your story, so now I’ll tell you mine.
I had a great childhood from the time I was born until about six, in contrast to yours. But then my dad died. I’m not going to go into great detail, or you would be reading this all night. But he died.
My mom was already diagnosed with mental disorders before he died. She had bipolar disorder, depression, and major anxiety. When he died, it was ignited magnificently. She never got out of bed or took care of my baby sister and I.
So I raised her. My sister and I fended for ourselves. No food. Sometimes no electricity or water. Barely a home to sustain us.
Fast-forward to my freshman year. (I am a junior at the moment). Well, I’ve always excelled in school because all of my hardships motivated me to do better. So I was in and out of custody with my mother, grandmother, and my aunt and uncle. It was really hard. I had to speak in front of a judge and all. Anyway. My freshman year. It was early February, and we had already had a fight about where I would live. I wanted to live with my aunt and uncle, so I did. My mother then decided to commit suicide because she didn’t have us anymore. She wrote letters to my sister and I explaining why she couldn’t do it any longer.
Your story today inspired me. I will continue to be resilient like you said. I will push on. I am in a good household now with people that love me. And I have learned to love myself, even though my love had all been mixed and mingled before. This year was two years without my mom and it will be eleven years for my dad in November.
I will continue to thrive. Maybe someday I can tell my story. Just like you did and will continue to do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Abigail Huffman
