Every Child's Life Matters
- Keeping Our Children Strong, Safe & Supported

by: Desiree Bachmann

I just wanted to share some success with all of you, who were involved in the very toughest of times, for one of our children in continuing care - Gloria.

At the foster parents appreciation dinner in October I was able to catch up with Gloria's foster parents and I was amazed at how different her life has become over the past four years.

I remember a time when you would have all been receiving Reportables about Gloria on a weekly basis. At that point, I thought that success was keeping her alive. Gloria was seriously addicted to crystal meth, dealing with mental health issues and living in very unsafe situations on the street. After being Certified under the Mental Health Act, spending six months at the Crossroads program at Maples, and over a year living in Columbia House, Gloria moved in with two amazing foster parents - Heidi and her partner Tracy.

On Thursday, Heidi told me that Gloria has been completely drug free for almost four years now. She is completely stabilized on her medications, is attending a school program in North Vancouver and has goals of becoming a psychiatric nurse. Gloria has made new connections with her maternal family, and reconnected with her paternal family; she attends Sweats weekly with her Dad and Sundances every summer. Gloria – whom at one point required 24-hour supervision – is now waking herself up in the mornings, making her own breakfast and lunches, taking transit independently, budgeting and shopping for groceries, attending medical appointments and participating in extra curricular activities.

I realize that a lot of money was spent on Gloria's care, and I wanted to let you all know how much of a difference it has made. Gloria was so lucky to have such wonderful people standing behind her - especially the amazing staff at Columbia House, and Heidi and Tracy, who are so fantastic. Gloria deserves a lot of credit, herself, because regardless of all of the opportunities that she has had, she is the one making the choice daily to live this life and not go back to using.

But mostly I wanted to thank all of you for your roles in providing opportunities to her, truly, every little piece has contributed to this miracle in her life.

Gloria is now in continuing care with Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society, and will be turning 19 in July.