I Beat the Odds_ From Homelessness, to the Blind Side, and Beyond - Michael Oher [72]
This happened in May of 2009 and I am still there. I am sober, I have a good place to live, I have a family, and I no longer feel lost, ashamed, abandoned, lonely, or hurt. I have a mom, dad, two younger brothers, and a dog. I am no longer on the run. I no longer have to be hungry every night. I no longer have to sleep on the ground, I have a bed, and I look forward to it every night. It is a warm, safe, comfortable, supportive, and loving, not abusive, environment. I finally have what I always wanted: a family that loves and cares about each other. Well, it took a long time to get here, and many times I felt like giving up along the way, but I made it with the help of many people. I cannot say enough good about these people. They opened up their house to a stranger and allowed me to be a part of it, not an outsider . . .
Your story let me know that I am not alone, and that I am not the only kid who had a rough beginning--and to never give up. Thank you for having the courage to share your story on a much larger scale.
In a completely different kind of letter, Molly writes to share her story of a family who opened their hearts to a child who needed a home:
I am eleven years old and I was born in China. My mom gave me away. I was adopted by two of the greatest parents. My tale is simple and easy. You went through so much more ... You will always be one of my greatest heroes and a wonderful role model. You are amazing and I am always grateful for the people that care about the homeless and poor. Keep changing people's lives like you did with me.
Betty describes her own experiences in reaching out:
During the NFL draft, I was enthralled with the story of your life. It mimics the story of my life. God decided that in our family's lives should be a little abandoned 41/2-year-old toddler of a different race. Today, she is a wonderful, successful, beautiful woman. We are a typical, very middle-class family that wanted to share our blessings with someone that may not have what we have . . .
Today, I volunteer at the high school that all my children graduated from. I asked myself, why would I volunteer EVERY DAY? Lo and behold, after one week, I found the answer: a six foot four young man from the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. I am just in the beginning stages of getting to know him, teaching him, and guiding him. Tomorrow we have our first outing. It is Martin Luther King Day and I am taking [the student] and his fellow basketball team members to the Cinemark Movie Theater to see The Blind Side. We are taking baby steps that started with a part-time tutor, clothes, and food.
I am excited to begin my second version of the "Michael Oher" story. May God continue to bless you! You and your family are truly an inspiration!
Lance and Becky share about the need they saw in their community and how it has helped their family grow in wonderful and unexpected ways:
Your story has affected a seventeen-year-old young man, Jyi. We met him over a year ago. He is a senior football player at [our local high school]. He has had many obstacles to endure during his life. He has lived in different states and has been exposed to situations with drugs, violence, and safety issues. He has had no option but to grow up early and take on adult responsibilities and financial stress. His childhood has thrown many situations at him, which included . . . his family in and out of the legal system, navigating through the school system having dyslexia, and now his mother having a cardiac condition that requires surgery. Because of this, she has been unable to work and maintain their housing. As a result, he has come to live with my husband and me and our three children.
When we were moving him in, my husband hammered our wall just to get his bed in his room. This is Jyi's