Jonathan's Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 16 "Unwilling spectator ..."Our fostering journey with a severely disabled boy
29 total reviews
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
Poor Jonathan to be subjected to such uncaring, insensitive people, and how poor of the government to be so uncaring. As always, you tell Jonathan's story with truth and compassion.
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2024
  |
Poor Jonathan to be subjected to such uncaring, insensitive people, and how poor of the government to be so uncaring. As always, you tell Jonathan's story with truth and compassion.
Comment Written 26-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2024
-
The government really is onlyconcerned with policies, but not the individuals on the receiving end of their decisions. Thank you very much for your positive review of the story. Much appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from Ginda Simpson
Wendy, I don't think I have managed to read your chapters in order, but each one stands alone well, and makes very clear the needs and challenges you learned to accommodate with care, and others not so much if at all. How difficult this must have been for you.
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2024
|
Wendy, I don't think I have managed to read your chapters in order, but each one stands alone well, and makes very clear the needs and challenges you learned to accommodate with care, and others not so much if at all. How difficult this must have been for you.
Comment Written 26-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2024
-
Thank you so much, Ginda. I hoped that would be the case, and I am glad you are able to read and enjoy these stories, although perhaps "enjoy" is not always the right words. I appreciate your review a lot.
Wendy
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Wendy,
you've shown the government at it's worse. The buffoons who run our countries seem to have almost no understanding of the people whom they are supposed to represent, much less a care of how the policies they implement will impact others. I'm so frustrated reading this account. I can't imagine how you must have felt. It's infuriating that these people with special needs are tossed off to the side and given the least amount of thought about what their needs entail. I know that there are people who care, but it seems that they are few and far between. I'm sorry that you've had to endure this. I know that it had to break your heart to feel so helpless. Thanks for sharing this gal. I hope that by sharing, the government will step up to the plate and start doing what is right for the most needy.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2024
 |
Hello Wendy,
you've shown the government at it's worse. The buffoons who run our countries seem to have almost no understanding of the people whom they are supposed to represent, much less a care of how the policies they implement will impact others. I'm so frustrated reading this account. I can't imagine how you must have felt. It's infuriating that these people with special needs are tossed off to the side and given the least amount of thought about what their needs entail. I know that there are people who care, but it seems that they are few and far between. I'm sorry that you've had to endure this. I know that it had to break your heart to feel so helpless. Thanks for sharing this gal. I hope that by sharing, the government will step up to the plate and start doing what is right for the most needy.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment Written 26-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2024
-
Yes, they are always tossed to the side, because they can?t defend themselves. The same with the mentally ill, many of whom became homeless with the phasing out of institutions. Yes, it was very hard to feel helpless, and that I was letting him down. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement - his story is not easy to write. Thank you too for the wonderful stars, so meaningful.
Wendy
-
I don't understand why governments are closing down institutions and leaving the mentally ill to fend for themselves. Its happened here too, and the results are disastrous.
Comment from Mrs. KT
Hello, Wendy,
So incredibly moving, frustrating, and heart-breaking.
I cannot begin to imagine how Jonathan suffered during this time, as well as you and your family being worried for his health and safety. The lack of true caring on the part of Jonathan's staff comes through loud and clear...
And of course, the last sentence of your exceptionally well-crafted narrative, "But of course, this was just the beginning" does not bode well...
So very disturbing, Wendy...
Thank you for sharing!
Fondly,
diane
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
Hello, Wendy,
So incredibly moving, frustrating, and heart-breaking.
I cannot begin to imagine how Jonathan suffered during this time, as well as you and your family being worried for his health and safety. The lack of true caring on the part of Jonathan's staff comes through loud and clear...
And of course, the last sentence of your exceptionally well-crafted narrative, "But of course, this was just the beginning" does not bode well...
So very disturbing, Wendy...
Thank you for sharing!
Fondly,
diane
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
Thank you so very much for your insightful and caring comments. Yes, he and the others must have suffered, but they had no voice to explain or complain. After a while, things settled - for a short period of time ....
Thank you too for the lovely gift of six stars, which mean a great deal to me, and encourage me to keep writing.
Wendy
Comment from kahpot
What a wonderful though frustrating read, I can understand that the blame must be shared from these staff and up to the bosses, but surely they must find staff who have some consideration for these young people, I do hope you can manage to improve their way of thinking, very well written***kahpot
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
What a wonderful though frustrating read, I can understand that the blame must be shared from these staff and up to the bosses, but surely they must find staff who have some consideration for these young people, I do hope you can manage to improve their way of thinking, very well written***kahpot
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
Thank you very much Kahpot. I appreciate your thoughtful review. Yes the staffing did improve after a while - for a while ....
Wendy
Comment from Rachelle Allen
OYYYYYYY!!! This is just absolutely devastating. And INFURIATING!! I admire your tenacity and the way you are so diplomatic about it all, too, Wendy! You are relentless and a FORCE, but you never lose your cool, which is smart, since who knows what these people do to Jonathan once you leave, right? I repeat: OYYYY!! I can't imagine having to "trust" them after they've shown you so little reason. But, what choice do you have? It's giving me, as they say here in American in the Southern states, a "come-apart." [Isn't that a perfect term?!] I'm so sorry you --and especially Jonathan-- had to experience this.
Can't wait for the next chapter. This one was extremely well done!
xoxox
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
OYYYYYYY!!! This is just absolutely devastating. And INFURIATING!! I admire your tenacity and the way you are so diplomatic about it all, too, Wendy! You are relentless and a FORCE, but you never lose your cool, which is smart, since who knows what these people do to Jonathan once you leave, right? I repeat: OYYYY!! I can't imagine having to "trust" them after they've shown you so little reason. But, what choice do you have? It's giving me, as they say here in American in the Southern states, a "come-apart." [Isn't that a perfect term?!] I'm so sorry you --and especially Jonathan-- had to experience this.
Can't wait for the next chapter. This one was extremely well done!
xoxox
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
You are exactly right. I had to remain calm and cool, but keep persevering. This was not easy at all, and that?s how I felt - I had no choice. So much more coming, and looking back, I don?t know how I managed at all! Thank you so much for those precious six stars. Feeling honoured to receive them.
Wendy
-
My pleasure!!
Comment from barbara.wilkey
How sad that they weren't considering what was best for the patient. I hate using the word patient and child isn't right. I guess 'what was best for Jonathan but is also for those also in their care. It shouldn't be this hard. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
How sad that they weren't considering what was best for the patient. I hate using the word patient and child isn't right. I guess 'what was best for Jonathan but is also for those also in their care. It shouldn't be this hard. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
They were usually referred to as "clients". You are right - it shouldn?t have been this hard. Thank you very much for reviewing.
Wendy
Comment from GWHARGIS
Poor kid, starving all week because these caregivers were too busy. He's very lucky to have you. How could they not see he wasn't eating. How could they not care. This was a distressing post. I enjoyed but couldn't help but feel bad for both of you. Gretchen
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
Poor kid, starving all week because these caregivers were too busy. He's very lucky to have you. How could they not see he wasn't eating. How could they not care. This was a distressing post. I enjoyed but couldn't help but feel bad for both of you. Gretchen
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
Thank you Gretchen. They saw only what they wanted to see, and had little understanding of how to look after vulnerable people.
Wendy
Comment from Jesse James Doty
It's hard to trust the establishment when they are just in it for themselves. Capital gain and greediness are to blame in my estimation.
When government proceeds to end all institutionalization the facts fly in the face of what is really happening to our loved ones who are cared for in these places.
Jesse
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
It's hard to trust the establishment when they are just in it for themselves. Capital gain and greediness are to blame in my estimation.
When government proceeds to end all institutionalization the facts fly in the face of what is really happening to our loved ones who are cared for in these places.
Jesse
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
Thank you Jesse for your thoughtful and insightful review. Exactly right!
Wendy
-
I'm glad we are on the same page.
Jesse
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Once again, a stirring and heartrending chapter that leaves me fuming if not unduly surprised. In terms of your whole story, this follows on so meaningfully from your descriptions about your action-packed days and your determination to allocate fairly all your responsibilities. Now we see a different world in which staff primarily look after themselves with little to no real interest paid to those in their care (certainly not to the extent of reading personal files which could, in the extreme, be life-saving). A bureaucratic system driven by politics and economics with you as the spectator. I would have been tearing my hair out at this point! Thank you so much for this exceptional write which captures so well the frustration, anger and concern that characterised this period in your life. Take care Debbie
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
|
Once again, a stirring and heartrending chapter that leaves me fuming if not unduly surprised. In terms of your whole story, this follows on so meaningfully from your descriptions about your action-packed days and your determination to allocate fairly all your responsibilities. Now we see a different world in which staff primarily look after themselves with little to no real interest paid to those in their care (certainly not to the extent of reading personal files which could, in the extreme, be life-saving). A bureaucratic system driven by politics and economics with you as the spectator. I would have been tearing my hair out at this point! Thank you so much for this exceptional write which captures so well the frustration, anger and concern that characterised this period in your life. Take care Debbie
Comment Written 25-Feb-2024
reply by the author on 25-Feb-2024
-
Thank you so much for your very understanding and thoughtful review. Exactly right, in every comment. I value the six stars greatly too!
Wendy