Damaged

"Damaged" is the story of Cathy Glass and her year-long effort to reach a little girl who was so damaged by abusive parents that her goal turned out to be one that she or any other lay person could never have met. It was wrong that Jodie was placed in a foster home. She was so severely damaged from the abuse that she suffered all her life that she should have been institutionalized instead of being placed in the foster care system. The authorities listed her "at risk" when she was born so they were aware there were problems. As Cathy Glass often wondered, why was she allowed to remain in her parents' home that long?

Melissa had two teenaged kids, Aria 16, and Hazel 13. She also had a foster child who had been with her for two years. Fifteen-year-old Sammy was an adopted member of the family and Melissa loved her as her own. Melissa discovered that she had the time and energy to take on another foster child. Her kids were in high school and developing their own lives. Melissa was divorced and agreed to take Willow into her home despite the fact that she was informed that although Willow had only been in the system for four months she had already been in five foster homes. Her behaviour was bad none of the families could keep her. There were hints that she had abused and was acting out in violence and anger as a result of the treatment she had received. Cathy had had twenty years of success with foster children. She felt confident she could help this little girl. But Melissa had no idea what she and her family would be in for.