You can find the transcript for this episode here.
When Linda met Becky, she was 3 years old and weighed 10 lbs. She was starving to death due to neglect in a nursing home in Ontario, Canada.
Linda and Becky knew right away that they were meant for each other. And Linda had a clear vision of the life that Becky deserved. But as Linda says, “you can’t just walk into one of these places and take a child out!”
Linda had to fight with the nursing staff administration who refused to let her visit. And she had to find, contact and earn the trust of Becky’s birth parents who had effectively abandoned her but still had parental rights.
It took 8 years until Becky was able to come to live with Linda and become a full-time member of the family. She weighed 17 lbs. She had gained 10 lbs in 10 years. The impact of that kind of deprivation is profound.
But as soon as Becky was liberated from the nursing home into family and community life, Linda was able to focus on advocating for the good things in life: good health, quality education, relationships, belonging, opportunities to experience the world and to contribute.
Join us in the next episode (episode 011) to hear about Becky’s remarkable human rights case that established the right of kids with disabilities to an inclusive education.
After listening to the episode, tell me what you think! Email me your top takeaways or messages for Linda. I’m happy to pass them along.
Thanks for Listening!
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Documentary: Becky Belongs
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Special thanks to Linda Till for joining me this week. Until next time!