DOES ANYONE CARE?  Voices Never Heard

   Most families have suffered loss, the death of a loved one.  When we suffer that loss we always have the comfort of all our friends and associates.  After a while, the pain begins to subside, and we go own with our daily lives.  We go forward and even though we still have a void to fill from that persons absence, life moves on. 

 For those of us that suffer the loss of a loved one to prison.......there is no moving forward.  We go on with our lives but we have to face that fact every day.  The comfort and support of loved ones and friends, is at best minimal.  No, matter how hard you try to move on.......you can't.  Every time you visit that loved one in prison, when you go home, they are torn from you again, re-opening that wound over and over again.  This continues the entire time they are locked away from you. AND WHO CARES? 

  MATTHEW, CHRISTOPHER AND KIMBERLY  

 Brothers and sisters torn apart and continue to suffer quietly.  Their worlds are turned upside down and will never be the same.  Does society reach out and offer to help?  Does society even care?   So, they remain quiet and suffer alone, in a pain only others like them can understand.   

  LOSS AND PAIN HAVE NO AGE BARRIER

Every time you  leave the visitation yard, tears fill everyone's eyes.  The sister of the inmate tries not to cry but tears just flow.  The pain never lessens, nor does it get any easier watching them take her younger brother back to his solitude.  She feels the loss of his presence, of his embrace and of his laughter.  She looks at her mother that is trying to be strong for her children, and no kind of strength can keep back the tears from seeing her children in such pain.  Who is there to comfort you?  Who is there to help ease your pain? On the way home, fighting back the tears, she talks of the day when they will all be together again and the many things they will do.  But she doesn't know when that will be, there is no date to mark on the calendar , only hope.    

  WORDS FROM A HURTING YOUNGER BROTHER SAY IT ALL.........AS WRITTEN FOR A  SCHOOL PARAGRAPH ........AGE 11 YEARS.

"My brother and I were best friends we played all sports together.  When he got into trouble we split up we did not see each other much.  One day I heard that he was in jail I felt terrible.  This was not a good influence on me.  He kept telling me that it was going to be fine and I believed him and still do.  One day it will be all right.  Because we have been under lots of pressure I've cryed till it hurt.  It has affected my life because people said bad things to me and my mom we had to move because of it.  It has brought me closer to God because Chris wanted me to stay out of trouble and to follow God was the only way."  

   

 SO THE FOUR OF THEM...........

cling together, praying, hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel. Heartbroken by the family members that never stood behind them and have forgotten their loved one.  Hurt by society that looks down on families of inmates. Destroyed by all the negative press and publicity. Let down by the people they thought were their friends. Sold out by a system that they thought was JUST because they trusted in the system to do what was JUST...........Wishing you could turn back time and hold that baby boy in your arms again! 

  

   

 HOW MANY FAMILIES

are there hurting as this one, my family?  How many families forgotten by society? I never knew until I was launched into the internet.  I thought we were all alone.  I sure felt all alone. The pain associated with Justice and Prison leaves a devastating mark.  Whether the person in prison be innocent or not........these families should receive the love and comfort as anyone else suffering such a loss.  And it is a loss!  A great loss to that family and their loved ones.  Their lives will never be the same, it will never be as it once had been. Thank goodness, there are wonderful groups on the internet and they are all suffering as we are.  So, you are not alone........there are 2 million of us, plus.  Thanks to our wonderful "Just-Us"  system (as my son likes to call it) the number is continually growing.