Never underestimate how much you can help

By Lois Tuffin

The message came out of the blue. “I need your help.” Little did I know how the journey would end.

A day later, a teary mother stood on my front porch, handing over her draft of a letter that aimed to get her son moved to safer supportive housing. He was unable to advocate for himself due to an intellectual disability so she was raising her voice for him.

Out came the story of the sexual abuse she wished she had foreseen and prevented. Out came the frustration with the people who were supposed to protect her precious boy.

Her letter was an emotional plea that rambled. She knew that when she wrote it, which is why she went looking for help. After our consultation, she left the hand-written note with me.

From chaos to calm

The next day, I transformed her words into a factual message that outlined the history and issues related to the housing situation. Instead of a mother blaming herself, I turned the onus onto the housing provider, using the right legal terms to get their attention.

The mother loved it. She mailed it.

We waited.

Several days later, a joyful message popped up on my screen. Her son is moving to a new location that better suits his needs. She was beyond thrilled and relieved.

“Your letter received the attention I was hoping for. I couldn't have done it without your expertise,” she said. “I feel blessed to have found you and I wish you all of life's best.”

As I deflected her praise, she responded with words that really struck my heart.

“There are probably a lot of people who know when something is not right but they just can't articulate the message they want to get across,” she said. “Sometimes you feel like a little person against the world. We all have a purpose and to have a gift that helps other people, well, that's the icing on the cake.”

Never underestimate how much you can help someone by listening and offering professional services that bridge a gap.

You never know how much it can change a life.