Anonymous Testimony 

As I think back, a few months, a few years, a phrase pops up into my mind that I’m sure all of you have heard time and again in your lifetime. 

“ Never judge a book by its cover!”

         As a grandmother, I believed I had three perfectly beautiful grandchildren, who were a constant joy to be around. All three of these children were adopted very young. As life went on and the years passed; living several hours apart, kept us from seeing their day-to-day behaviours developing at home. 

Our daughter was often left to raise them alone as a single mom, per se, as her                husband worked long hours and days. She would often say how difficult the children were being, but like everyone else we did not believe the severity of what it could be. 

         Three years ago, we moved 15 minutes away from them. During this time we have seen the trauma endured by these children; whether it was abandonment, neglect, or parental drug abuse in the womb; manifest themselves into monster type behaviors! 

      As the children have grown and matured at a very slow rate, their abusive and violent behaviors have come to light. One day, a year ago, I happened upon my daughter, sitting outside of her home in tears, punched, beaten, bruised, kicked, and bitten by one of her children in a fit of rage. I knew this could no longer continue, and we had to do whatever we could to assist.

        Our daughter and the three children moved in with my husband and I on September 1, 2024 until the beginning of May 2025. It has been the most traumatizing and difficult winter of our lives. If it had not been for Sarah-Jane and St. Joseph’s House of Repose coming to the rescue, I dread to think of where we would be today without her intervention. I truly believe she was sent by God as an answer to our desperate prayers. She was our lifesaver! I say this, not only for us as adults, but also for the children, as it gave them hope in overcoming their behaviors, and trauma. They are hopeful in becoming responsible, honest, loving, and contributing individuals in society. Sarah-Jane has given us all hope that healing their brains from their trauma is possible. We are now witnessing the results developing.

     Therapeutic respite care isn’t just a glorified babysitter! It’s someone you can rely on to manage your child’s behavior, hold them accountable and have them do restitution accordingly. 

     Miss Sarah-Jane, as your children will learn to address her, has a special gift from God that enables her to manage the behaviors to the point where she can redirect your child from a major meltdown back to logic and reasoning. Only then are you able to reason with your child once again. The skills we learned from Miss Sarah-Jane and her mentors have changed the way we parent and has made life so much more enjoyable for everyone she has been and continues to be an excellent coach.

     Does your child have a behavior that you find extremely difficult to deal with? Think back of any possible trauma your child may have experienced or witnessed since conception! Traumas often do not show their ugly side until later. There is no shame in admitting your child has a problem. The greatest gift that you could give them and yourself is therapeutic training. I highly recommend this.!!!

May God bless you in your discernment.