My Story
Growing up non-verbal there were only a few select people I felt comfortable talking to, my grandma, Dorothy was one of them. She was the heart of the family. She never had a negative thing to say, always smiling and taking care of everyone around her. When school wasn't the easiest for me, I couldn't wait to get off and go see her. She'd always have candy and a big hug waiting for me. We would go out and walk through the garden and I would tell her all about my day. Anything I wanted to do, she do it with me. Rather that'd be dressing up, drawing, singing, playing basketball, she'd do it. She was my safe space, there was nothing that calmed down more than being in her arms. I was 10 when she fell ill with cancer. It was about a year watching her decline, to the point she became bedridden. From what I was aware at the time she didn't want anyone to know how sick she was.