Misty came to the Home when she was twelve-years-old with deeply rooted anger. As a child, she witnessed her mother being physically abused by her stepfather on a daily basis. This violent childhood went on for 10 years before she arrived.
”Needless to say, I was not a happy person. I didn’t like authority figures. I was not excited by any means to be there away from my mom. I was very mean to the staff.”
Misty was verbally aggressive and a challenge to everyone who tried to care for her. She was also a danger to herself and others.
“They put up with a lot from me, and they kept trying. But, you can’t help a kid that doesn’t want to be helped.” Despite our initial efforts, Misty continued to spiral out of control. She needed hospitalization and soon found herself moving from placement to placement. Following multiple hospital visits, she went on to live with her father, stepmother and stepbrother. After a short time, Misty’s stepbrother began abusing her.
“I was so scared. When I finally told my dad and stepmother what was going on, I was the one they blamed.”
Misty told her social worker she wanted to go back to KyUMH because she knew the staff cared about her there and she felt she was ready to succeed.
“I remember one of the staff saying, ‘we will never give up on you, no matter how much you try to push us away.’ It finally hit me – they really did care.”
Upon returning to us, Misty not only experienced emotional healing, but spiritual as well. She attended chapel and learned that God loved her no matter what.
“To know that I am unconditionally loved is an amazing feeling. He is the One I can always count on.”
Misty graduated our program and is now married, employed as a pediatric medical assistant and couldn’t be happier.
“I learned that with God, anything is possible. If I believe and have faith, He will get me through any difficult time. I couldn’t ask for more. I am blessed.”
