I was born on April 22, 1972 in Hodgson, Manitoba. I was adopted at eleven months by Margaret Willms because my biological mother, Sarah Jane, thought I would be better off with Margaret, because I would probably do bad things if I stayed in Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba.

I have a big brother Henry and a sister Elizabeth and my dad wasn't living with my mom He was living in Paungassi. Margaret took me home to Coaldale, Alberta where I got to meet my grandfather, which was my mom's father. Mom got a job in the hospital in Lethbridge. I did get sick when I was little, but I got over that and was healthy again.

I started going to Wee College in Coaldale when I was four years old. Then after that I started Kindergarten at age five. While I was in John Davidson Elementary School in Coaldale, from grade one through six, I started feeling sick. And in Junior High things went down real fast. I lost friends and befriended bad kids. Kids would tease me because I failed grade seven and had to stay in grade seven a second year. I was going to R. I. Baker School. Then I left Coaldale and was placed to live at McMann Receiving and Assessment Home in Picture Butte, north of Coaldale. After that I went to Cowley and attended school in Pincher Creek at Matthew Halton School. I graduated to grade nine but they left me in grade eight again. Then I had to leave Cowley because it had to move because of the Old Man River Dam. I moved to the McMann Group Home in Medicine Hat. I had to leave Matthew Halton School and transferred first to grade eight at Crescent Heights School in Medicine Hat. I joined the band, learned how to play the drums. Then I transferred to Medicine Hat High School. I befriended a girl and she became not a friend. She beat me up and the principal kicked me out of school.

When I was in the group home I tried a correspondence course. That didn't go very well so I just didn't do it anymore. I left McMann to move back to Lethbridge. I had made a lot of friends when I attended the Mennonite Brethren Church in Medicine Hat.

Then I ran away to Toronto. When I came back to Lethbridge I started smoking, doing drugs, drinking and living on the streets. My mom had bought me a puppy before I left home. Her name was Sparky. I loved her and she gave me lots of kisses. I also had a big orange tabby cat named Amber.

I was living with my mom at age nineteen. My mom and I checked out a bunch of agencies and the one that my mom was happy with was Next Step. The lady we talked to was Scooter (Mary) Bethlotte. I was accepted.

I met my roommates Irene and Barbara. Before I met them I met Kimberley Judd (now Skou). She was the supervisor.

I didn't feel like hanging out with Barb, she was bad news. She set a fire to our bathroom and stole money from staff. Then one night two policemen came to the house and took Barb away. Irene and I had a better night after that. We then realised that Barb wasn't coming back so we both sat down and discussed getting another roommate. Soon we got a roommate and her name is Jessica. I knew her right away because I knew her from the hospital.

Meanwhile Irene was working at the Rehab. She enjoys that. Jess and I did volunteering around Lethbridge. Then we had a paper route as well.

I moved out of the group home to become Kim's roommate. I love it. The boys were cool having me as their roommate. We have two Dachshund's name Bruno and Brutus. In 2002 Kim married Kenneth who lived in Copenhagen, Denmark. We are happy because Kenneth can be here with us. In 2001 I began working at Peak Vocational Services and I'm loving it. I have made lots of friends, just like me. We get paid once a month. What we do at Peak is recycling, lawns, snow removal, sorting flyers, looking for IGA carts and also Zellers and Walmart carts, and rag cutting. I attend the Coaldale Mennonite Church where I got baptised and now I'm a member.

My mom and I were run over by a white truck in 1995. I don't remember much because I passed out. When I woke up I was in the hospital in Coaldale. My mom was taken to Lethbridge. My mom was hurt more than I was. The policeman brought Sparky, then Kim took me home. The accident was August 27, 1995 but my mom was in the hospital for three months. I really wanted her to be able to have Christmas with Sparky and me. When Christmas arrived my mom was home and Sparky and I and mom hugged and cried.

Well, I am saying good-bye.

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