The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXIII

ANNABEL BLIER
DIONNE MANCHESTER, TEACHER
Keith Middle School, New Bedford, MA
In May 2008, my sister was born. When she was born, she had to be rushed
to another hospital. My dad was on the ambulance’s tail, not stopping for
anything or anyone, because that was his baby girl inside! Just one hour later,
Abagail was alive, but she was sick, so she had to stay in the hospital. Once
she was healthy enough, she was home. Then, just two years later, in April
2010, I was born, and my brothers and my sister were happy! I brought joy
to my sister and my brothers, but when I was eleven months old, my sister,
my brother and I were taken out of our parents’ house and placed into a
foster home. That foster home is where my life changed.
My brother would soon be separated from my sister and me. My sister always
tried to stay by my side. She told me that as long as we have each other, that’s
the only family we need, and she promised to always be there for me. After
four years of going in and out of foster homes, my sister and I were placed into
a foster home that I will always blame for my anxiety, PTSD, and depression.
I was eight years old at the time, and my sister was ten. In that house, I would
be starved and abused mentally and physically. The unthinkable cruelty and
abuse was more intense than I can put into words. Once, one of the fosters
used a weapon and said that if I ever told anyone about what he was doing,
he would shoot me and my sister. So I kept quiet. When I would be starved,
my sister would sneak me food and water. She was always the shoulder to cry
on. She was always there for me, but at the same time, she would also do
everything she could to be taken out of there. Every time she was removed, she
would be gone for, like, a week, so I would tell myself, She’ll be back. But one
time, she never came back. I lost my best friend. My will to live was gone. I
was alone for one year at that place, until I found out I would finally be placed
in a foster house with my sister. I was happy!
“ALL OF THE THINGS
I’VE BEEN THROUGH
HAVE BROUGHT ME
TO WHERE I AM
AND MADE ME WHO
I AM TODAY—A
COURAGEOUS, STRONG,
INTELLIGENT, ACTIVE,
FUN, SILLY, BRIGHT
FUTURE DOCTOR.”
with Terry and Jose for almost five years. I still have depression, PTSD, and
anxiety, but my family helps me through it. And my sister has kept her promise;
she is always there for me.
Although I still deal with my mental health, I am surrounded by people who
love and support me, people who will always be by my side, no matter what,
and for that, I am forever grateful. All of the things I’ve been through have
brought me to where I am and made me who I am today—a courageous,
strong, intelligent, active, fun, silly, bright future doctor.
On March 26, 2019, I was placed into Terry and Jose’s home. I didn’t talk
much at first because I didn’t know if I could trust them. It took five months
until I called them my parents, and now I will call them that forever. I told
them what happened at the other house, and that house was closed down. I
went to therapy, and I still do go to therapy. I now see my brother two times a
month, and I am also seeing my biological parents regularly. Best of all, I have
my best friend back! I am now thirteen, and my sister is fifteen. We have been
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND
VOLUME XXXIII
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