WHAT THE COMMUNITY DOESN’T SEE

I first came to know about Allison through the counseling department at the high school where I was volunteering. I was told that Allison’s mom was living in a nursing home due to a stroke, had lost their home and Allison was living with a boyfriend. The counselor also told me that Allison was diagnosed with “stress-induced seizers”. I thought, “Wow! This is tragic!”

I called Allison in to my office to meet her and introduce myself. Allison was a stunning young woman, but I remember how sad she was and how quickly the tears came. Actually, thinking back on my time with Allison, there were a million tears shed in my office. She started telling me her story, but of course the story is always go so much deeper than first revealed. With the initial meeting, I remember writing down, “Will be homeless if boyfriend kicks her out.“ Well, it wasn’t long before I received the phone call; the boyfriend had hit her and kicked her out. I told her to pack her things and she could come stay at my house for a while. Allison was barely 17, no car, no drivers license an no job! …See More