“Whereabouts: Unknown”. That is what you would read if looking me up on the Internet today.
My name is Catherine and I came about my “mission” July 13, 2010.
I have a 4 year old boy, who means the world to me. He was my “miracle child” at 37; being I was not supposed to have children. His father was verbally and mentally abusive so I finally ran away to Inverness to my parent’s house. I married the father, thinking I was doing the right think for my son. Little did I know it would backfire.
I have a history of depression, suicide attempts, self-mutilation and alcoholism. On the 13th, I felt all I could take so I took my son, 3 at the time, to the next door neighbors crying and pleading to them to make sure he was taken care of and returned to my parents. I then returned to the house and proceeded to cut my wrists. Attempt failed, thank God.
While I was in the ER being brought to back to like (in so many ways), I signed my son over to my parents’ custody temporarily. I was lost. I love my son to no end but felt he would have been better off without me.
As a result of my actions, it was ordered that I could no longer live under the same roof with my son. While I was in the Centers, my parents looked around for a place for me to live and found The Mission. They were so excited when they told me about this place. They came and looked around, finding others in my same position here and felt so comfortable and confident with The Mission.
Since I have been here, I have comradery and bonding with other women residing here. I have never been more accepted in my life as I do here. I am getting the love, attention and self-confidence in getting my son back and that life is worth living. Living IS what I’m getting at The Mission.
Since I was a teenager, in and out of hospitals and psychiatric units, none compare to the shelter; go figure!
The Centers, where I was Baker Acted, did ABSOLUTELY NOTHINGfor me. If I were looking for a place to just be ignored, fed and “tucked” away like I was a problem child and having no access to groups or therapy; I would have been at Club Med. However, I have found the safest, loving and most respectable home I could ever be in.
My “mission” has brought me to this shelter; having never been homeless and so lost, and has made me believe there is hope and goodness out there.
I had lost my son, my belongs…myself. Come here is getting me all that back and more. Thank you.