Channin Henry Williams - I SEE CHANGE COMING (TEXAS)
Showing signs of being very sick, our daughter Raven started a fire in our cabin. We were able to put the fire out quickly. When police picked her up, it was clear she needed long-term medical care. They didn’t even hint about pressing charges. Only the doctor treating her asked if we were doing to press charges, suggesting that might be the best way to get her help. Her psychologist didn’t agree with the doctor.
That evening, my husband and I went to the hospital to talk to the doctors and to check on Raven. We were shaken by the events of that day, but we weren’t angry with her. She’d been medication compliant. When I entered the hospital room, Raven was entertaining herself with peanut butter and a spoon. After we hugged, I saw that she was behaving like a five-year-old. She showed me her neat trick. She could put the spoon and peanut butter on her nose and giggled because it wouldn’t fall off. She seemed oblivious to the events that had just taken place. The next morning, I called CPS (Child Protective Services) and explained why I was unable to bring my daughter home. My heart broke.
In spite of everything, I see hope. I see more people who care. I see more of us telling our stories so we can make a difference. I see social support groups available online to give advice and support. I see a movement of people who are tired of fighting a system that fails us and has no accountability, and tired of finding our loved ones incarcerated or homeless. I see people educating our politicians and trying to make improvements. I see change coming.
Read more of Channin’s story in the upcoming book, TOMORROW WAS YESTERDAY - Explosive First-Person Indictments of the US Mental Health System -- Mothers Across the Nation Tell It Like It Is. It will be available on Amazon.
Watch my Nautilus Book Awards Author Spotlight video:https://vimeo.com/422993030
Channin and Raven