Caty’s Refuge Chapter 8
A New Family
Joanne and I had our antennas up for an environment to help with Caty’s emotional and mental development. Six years after she joined the Shadow family, I emailed our Guatemalan missionaries asking for options The next day, we received a call from a missionary couple who listened to Caty’s history and determined they could minister to her. They even considered adopting her into their family of two small children. Both wanted to fully invest themselves in her to help her recovery from the tragic past. After much discussion, meetings, and referrals, we released her into their custody. Caty, now 18, no longer belonged under the regulations of the children’s court. The transfer would move quickly.
Caty’s first meeting with the family took my breath away. We agreed to join them in Guatemala City for the final test, Caty’s reaction to them. When the couple and baby entered the room, Caty focused on the child and softly kissed the top of her head, did her giggle act, and ducked her head. She leaned up against the mother and looked ready to go.
“Caty, would you like to live with this family?” I said.
With her mouth partway open, she licked her lips and moved closer to the mother.
“I think that is a yes,” I said. “Okay, Caty, you won’t go this time because we need to pack your clothes and personal items. They will come and get you when everything is ready.” Her lips turned down when we left, and she did her slow plod behind me.
We decided to give Caty all new clothes to help ease that burden on the family. I took her to the storeroom and pulled out a suitcase.
“You need some new tennis shoes. Pick out a pair from these.”
Caty grabbed some and threw them into the suitcase.
“No, chic mia, try them on first.”
She looked over the tops and picked out the most colorful ones. Her tee-hees filled the room while she tried on her selection. To her, Christmas had come. We returned to the casita with a full bag, where her inquisitive sisters waited. Caty seized the moment and explained to them about everything in her luggage.
“Mira zapatos mios.” On she went for each item. I had never seen her say so much at one time and regretted we didn’t have it on video.
“We need to give her a going away party, “ Joanne said.
Plans went into action, and the reality that she would leave walloped me. I felt reluctant to release her, but the time had come for the experience of a fuller life, and Caty deserved a grand farewell.
The older girls and house mothers set up the party on the basketball court. Caty’s shiny eyes and titters reflected how special she felt. The hugs and goodbyes with the house parents and children followed with many tears. Still, Caty continued to smile and be giddy, ready for her new venture.
Close communication followed with updates on Caty’s adjustment. The honeymoon period fell flat within a few weeks, and Caty resisted anything they encouraged. She wanted to sit on a bench and not move for the whole day and didn’t respond to anybody. Even the baby could not bring her around.
Initially, Caty told them more stories of her gory past. Donna showed Caty some pictures, and Caty pointed to one and called her Daniela. She described how Daniela killed her baby, and blood covered everything. Another time, Caty said a girl named Tabitha had been burned with hot water. This was the first time she called people from her past by names. Then Caty escaped into her hiding place and shut out everything else. The task became more complicated than the couple imagined, and even though their hearts wanted to minister to her, they could not do it.
What triggered Caty into past memories? Did she experience pain in missing her Shadow family? We listened to the family’s desperation and resolved Caty needed to return to Shadow.
Weeks later, another plan developed for Caty to live with an older single teacher. Caty had a close relationship with Tia Myra, and it seemed an excellent opportunity for her to learn life skills—one-on-one. They would live in Monjas so Caty could be around the people she loved. The Project helped with the expenses, and the arrangement would be an extension of the orphanage to help with Caty’s particular needs. Within weeks, the woman confessed she could not continue. We crossed that one off the list and moved Caty back to the Home.
