Individuals Paying It Forward

If you would have told me a few years ago that there were actually angels on this earth I probably wouldn't have believed you. All you seem to see around you is cruelty and violence. There are a group of people that have done the impossible. They not only took a small child and turned her life around. They also brought back my faith in humanity.

When my daughter Caitlin started her kindergarten year at Green Township I knew most of the teachers and staff. She had four siblings that attended before her. I had attended the same school as did my siblings. I knew the school was wonderful. The teachers caring and concerned but to what extent i didn't know until Cailin's kindergarten year.

Shortly after she began this year I was called in for a conference. Cailin had'nt spoken, used the restroom or participated in anyway. She was a sad and lost child. I was told that they suspected she had a little known anxiety disorder called Selective Mutism. I admit that I went away from this meeting thinking they were making way too much out of a shy child. I was convinced of this. I had never heard of Selective Mutism and I was a very shy child myself. I knew she would come out of it. My confidence began to waiver when I received her school picture. You could see how lost she was just by looking at this. Still, I believed she would come out of it. During her first grade year I was called in for another conference. Caitlin still didn't speak, didn't participate, didn't use the restroom, and now she also didn't eat. Caitlin is a very small child she is tall for her age but at seven she can wear the waist of a three year old. Therefore the fact that she didn't eat caused me the most concern.

I took her to a therapist who put her on zoloft. She hated going and would throw tantrums when I tried to take her. The school worked with her dilligently and tediously. Doing everything they could for her. I appreciated everything they were doing for her but didn't realize how lucky she really was until I went to the Selective Mutism site to learn more about this disorder. I read one horror story after another on how this disorder was misdiagnosed. Others who didn't take the time to research it and find out what it entailed thought that the children were spoiled and disobedient. They treated them with scorn rather than the love and patience they needed. Some blamed it on the parents. Cailin's school didn't do this. They found the problem and researched ways to help her. They gave her all the time and love she needed.

Cailin is now at the end of her second grade year. Her first grade teacher, Mrs. McGilvray was the first to break through her silence. She spoke but only to her. She is now under the care of Riley and has made miraculous breakthroughs. She finally ate. Shortly after she began to speak. Not only to speak but to sing. Now she babbles on like any other child. If you didn't know her past you wouldn't know she was ever different. I think the reason for this is partly because she was never made to feel different. She was always loved and she knew it.

I know that Cailin never would have made it this far if it wasn't for her angels.

I have found that from experience children can be cruel but the parent's of Caitlin's peers can be proud that these children were raised right. They never treated her with scorn or contempt as children are known to do. They made her feel welcomed and a part of the group. They included her and worked as dilligently as everyone else.

Please recognize these people if it weren't for them Caitlin is'nt the only one who would be lost I would have been as well. I thank God everyday for Caitlin's angels and everyone should know that angels really exist. They are Mrs. Tramatona, Mrs. McGilvray, Mrs. Modisett, Mrs. Mertz, Mrs. lee, Mrs. Hoffman, Mr. Cazee, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schaefer, and all the parents of Caitlin's peers. The school is Green Township Elementary in Martinsville, Indiana. These are Cailin's Angels but they are my angels as well as the whole community.