Thursday, June 08, 2006

Newspaper Article

Samuel had a great time yesterday, thanks for praying for him.
The newspaper article I wrote about yesterday was on the front page, with a picture of Samuel. He was so excited. Below is the entire article:
Shakera Mance asks the question without hesitation: "Who in your family died?"
Last October, the 8-year-old had to answer that question a lot after her father, Azon Hollis Wilburn, was shot to death. But the interest of her friends and classmates eventually waned.
"Most of the time they don't want to talk about it because they had other people in their family who died, too," she said.
On Tuesday, Shakera joined 21 other children, all of whom have lost parents or caretakers to violence, at Safe Passages, a day camp sponsored by the
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
They met at 8 a.m. to board a bus taking them to Charlotte, N.C., where they spent the day at Discovery Place and enjoyed a pizza lunch before the trip home.
Tuesday, the first day of the two-day camp, was a time for fun. Shakera's favorite part of the day was a liquid nitrogen demonstration, she said, because she loves science.
The trip also was a time for children from day-care centers all the way up to youths from high school to come together in an environment where, for once, they were just like everyone else.
Mechica Smith, 11, wore a silver necklace with a pendant bearing an engraved portrait of her father, Quintan Foster, his birth date and the day he died: Aug. 22, 2005.
Her father used to pick on her, teasing her when she had not fixed her hair. Or, he'd hit her with a pillow when it was time to wake up.
Mechica remembers the day he died. It was early morning when one of her aunts shook her from sleep, saying, "Get up."
"I was just shaking all night, and I
didn't know what happened. … They said, 'Put on some clothes.' And they said, 'Somebody died.' "
By the time Mechica arrived at the hospital, she knew it was her father. And she was angry.
She doesn't talk much about his death these days. She's afraid kids might say bad things about her dad.
Mechica spoke of her father Tuesday, but she spent most of the day warming up to the other children, relaxing and having a good time. She joined the other kids in cheering rats "playing basketball" at the hands-on science center.
Samuel Sparks, 8, helped keep score during the rat basketball game, marking down each time a rat grabbed a small ball and jumped with it through a hoop.
His bright face grows solemn when he speaks of his late grandparents, George and Billie Ford. The Fords were shot in December by Samuel's uncle, who authorities said also killed his aunt before shooting himself.
Sometimes, Samuel said, it's good to talk about what happened. He remembered sharing his story with a friend whose grandfather had died.
It made his friend feel better, Samuel said. "And he made me feel a little better, too."
Dealing with grief
Few people want to talk about their grief, counselor Heather Ravnan told the children Tuesday. But she reminded them it's healthy to express what they're feeling, and the day camp helps them realize they are not alone.
"Just seeing all these kids who they have something in common with is therapeutic," Ravnan said.
The camp began in 1999. It is the third year for 18-year-old Whitney Jeter.
Jeter, a nursing student at
Spartanburg Technical College who now helps chaperone, was 9 when her aunt, Deshiella Jeter, was murdered in 1996.
"You do have fun (at the camp), but at the same time, you also realize the real reason why you're here," she said.
It's a blessing that many of the kids -- especially the ones with no family left -- are able to come and have people to discuss their feelings with, she added.
"It's not all about that one day, what happened to your loved one," Jeter said. "It's to get out, do something with your life."
Debra Williams, victim advocate with the Sheriff's Office, is leading the children on a canoeing expedition today, the second day of the camp. They also will reflect on how to carry on and overcome challenges in their lives.
"It's just knowing that they're not alone and they have the support from other children the same age that have been through the same thing they have," Williams said. "And a lot of the time, they gain strength from each other."
Please come back tomorrow, we have a GREAT Friday Family Funny!

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