RAVEN ROCK REPORT JANUARY-APRIL 2024
Greeter Barney enjoying the sunshine
As the year began to unfold and winter unfurled its glory in the trees, flowers and our lighter, happier hearts, Raven Rock launched our BHAG (Big, Hairy Audacious Goal). Because our efficacy is unparalleled and there is never an end to our waiting list, all of our Raven Rock Family knows we simply must expand to help more kids, more parents, and families as well as other folks suffering with trauma.
We have plans to increase the size of our facility and the number of trained Clinicians who work with clients as well as adding more horses. My son, Justin, asked if things were going really well now. I answered, “They sure are!” “Why do you want to make your life more complex?” he asked. Hmmm- good question. I did think about it for a while. Because we have an enthusiastic staff and a succession plan in place, I am not at all hesitant to go full steam ahead with this important work and important project. Unfortunately, it is not getting better in our world as far as suicidal attempts, ideation, or lack of treatment options for those who need help. This is our call to action.
Of course, we are depending on those heroes who have supported us in the past. You know who you are- the people who cannot stand by and do nothing while the suicide attempts/rate climbs every year. You are the people who roll up your sleeves and get to work helping where you can. Good hearted people who genuinely care.
Tim and I will be calling you to meet and talk about this plan. We need to know more about your observations and thoughts that affect our communities. Please take our call when the phone rings- we need you more than ever!
Someone once told me, “If you want “fair” go to Puyallup. We all know life isn’t fair, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. It happened like that to one of our sweet young kids. I’ll call him “Cal.”
When Cal first showed up, he was with his Grandma. That is not uncommon- often parents can’t really make life with their child work for various reasons. My love and admiration is with those grandparents who expected retirement to be something it has not turned out to be. Cal’s grandma said that his mom “was not in the picture” and the dad “was working so many jobs that he was never home.” All accurate, but not the whole story.
Cal was 9 on his arrival at RRR. He is kind, thoughtful, compassionate with people as well as with animals. Nothing to suggest trauma or a challenge at an earlier time. It turns out that his father has 3 DUI’s and can’t work in the clubs where he was working and make it home to see his son. Tim goes to all of Cal’s baseball games, but Cal sometime laments that he wishes his dad would come.
When he was 7, his mother died of a fentanyl overdose while in the bathroom. Only the two of them were in the apartment and he was locked out. He did not know she was dead but found a way to peek inside to see her lifeless body. For 3 days he was there, terrified and confused until he reached out to someone for help.
One of our favorite kids, Cal has the potential for greatness and overcoming bad odds, and the potential to become very angry, violent, and despondent about his life. I know grandma is doing a great job with him, but do you feel as I do- she needs some help to guide him through some tough times ahead? We will never give up on Cal as long as he needs to come to Raven Rock, but I can’t help but think there are lots more kids just like him who need some help.
Cal has connected with Ria, our beautiful rescue that survived her own trauma. A few years ago, she was in a small paddock with 5 other horses without food or water- two of them had died of starvation. Though she was pregnant, no one could tell because she was skin and bones. She had a healthy baby girl 3 months after her rescue. Ria is a survivor, just as I believe Cal is. Perhaps that is what they saw in each other.
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As always, we are so very blessed to know you and call you part of the Raven Rock Family. The work we do together changes lives for the better. I pray your benefit will be 10-fold. YOU are our heroes.
Love and hugs to all,
Sandy & Tim
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