Jonathan's Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "Sheryl's story"Our fostering journey with a severely disabled boy
32 total reviews
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Brilliantly captivating story in which I was utterly absorbed and I could have gone on reading forever. I had no idea that this would finally relate to your Marco but it was with huge relief that I realised he was being handed over to the best. But what an almighty challenge for you and what a story you still have to tell! I sincerely hope that he's still making progress following that very worrying time last year. Thank you so much for sharing this faultless entry for the contest and I wish you lots of luck, Wendy! Take care Debbie
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Brilliantly captivating story in which I was utterly absorbed and I could have gone on reading forever. I had no idea that this would finally relate to your Marco but it was with huge relief that I realised he was being handed over to the best. But what an almighty challenge for you and what a story you still have to tell! I sincerely hope that he's still making progress following that very worrying time last year. Thank you so much for sharing this faultless entry for the contest and I wish you lots of luck, Wendy! Take care Debbie
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you Debbie for this amazing review. I greatly appreciate the honour of six stars. His story (not always easy to think about or write) will be my main project for this year. Thanks too for remembering about his recent illness. He is doing much better, but missed our Christmas gathering because he got Covid! He's better now, but still weak and tires easily.
Wendy
Comment from GWHARGIS
Oh my gosh. Please tell me you are going to continue with this. I thought this was work of fiction. I double checked then it started to click. This must be about your foster son. Thank you for sharing this story with us. Gretchen
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Oh my gosh. Please tell me you are going to continue with this. I thought this was work of fiction. I double checked then it started to click. This must be about your foster son. Thank you for sharing this story with us. Gretchen
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you so much Gretchen, for an amazing review, and for the six precious stars, which i feel honoured to receive. Yes, his story, with all its complexities, will be my main project for this year.
Wendy
Comment from karenina
dear God, thank you for angels on earth who step up and take is such a child...
Loving, parenting and supporting him with not a shred of judgement about his mom...who clearly loved him enough to admit she could not offer him what you have!
You are his blessing. He is yours!!!
A riveting first chapter that I expect yo be back congratulating you for!
I love your heart as much as your writing!
Karenina
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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dear God, thank you for angels on earth who step up and take is such a child...
Loving, parenting and supporting him with not a shred of judgement about his mom...who clearly loved him enough to admit she could not offer him what you have!
You are his blessing. He is yours!!!
A riveting first chapter that I expect yo be back congratulating you for!
I love your heart as much as your writing!
Karenina
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Wow, thank you so much Karenina for your enthusiastic response, and for the honour of the six precious stars. Yes, I think she showed great courage and sacrifical love. His story will be my main project for this year.
Wendy
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I'm excited to be able to follow that, Wendy!
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Since it was marked as biographical non-fiction, I figured he was the young man you've written so much about. Is it Michael?
Is his background story fiction, or have you learned enough about the parents to write this?
Very poignant, and I'm so happy that everyone did not give up on him, even though his parents did. They were young, addicted, and wanted no responsibilities . . . too bad they chose to go through with the biggest responsibility of one's life.
Very well done, Wendy. Good luck in the contest.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Since it was marked as biographical non-fiction, I figured he was the young man you've written so much about. Is it Michael?
Is his background story fiction, or have you learned enough about the parents to write this?
Very poignant, and I'm so happy that everyone did not give up on him, even though his parents did. They were young, addicted, and wanted no responsibilities . . . too bad they chose to go through with the biggest responsibility of one's life.
Very well done, Wendy. Good luck in the contest.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Yes, this is our foster son. Sometimes I've called him Michael, or Jonathan. Neither is his real name but I am not revealing that for privacy reasons, but everything else will be non-fiction. Thanks so much for reviewing so thoughtfully, and I greatly appreciate the six stars, a great honour and much valued.
Wendy
Comment from Navada
This is such a challenging and complex story. It made me reflect just how lucky I have been in my own life and how big-hearted and loving so many people are who work in the care of disabled people. My parents volunteered with an intellectually disabled day centre throughout my childhood and I was in contact with many people with a range of different challenges. I am in awe of health care workers and foster parents. Thanks so much for sharing this.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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This is such a challenging and complex story. It made me reflect just how lucky I have been in my own life and how big-hearted and loving so many people are who work in the care of disabled people. My parents volunteered with an intellectually disabled day centre throughout my childhood and I was in contact with many people with a range of different challenges. I am in awe of health care workers and foster parents. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you so much, Navada, for your very positive review! His story will be my main project for this year. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Wendy
Comment from Rachelle Allen
WHOAAAAA!!! This is absolutely STUNNING, Wendy!! My goodness!! What a way to begin a story!!
Your writing is so smooth and flowing, intelligent, and captivating. I was hooked at once. I hope there is much, much more to come, because I know I will love it every bit as much.
You are such a high-quality writer! This is exceptional! xoxox
PS - quick little spag in the paragraph that begins "A decision was finally agreed to..." . 'too fragile t be his carer.'
Great luck in the contest. I can't imagine anything beating this!!
xoxoxo
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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WHOAAAAA!!! This is absolutely STUNNING, Wendy!! My goodness!! What a way to begin a story!!
Your writing is so smooth and flowing, intelligent, and captivating. I was hooked at once. I hope there is much, much more to come, because I know I will love it every bit as much.
You are such a high-quality writer! This is exceptional! xoxox
PS - quick little spag in the paragraph that begins "A decision was finally agreed to..." . 'too fragile t be his carer.'
Great luck in the contest. I can't imagine anything beating this!!
xoxoxo
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response, and for the gift and honour of six stars. That's so lovely. His story will be my main project for this year, but not all of it will be easy reading.
Thanks so much for picking up the typo, always appreciated.
Wendy
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Sooo excited now! I can't wait! xoxo
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this with us. My heart goes out to this child and also to Sheryl. I understand how hard this had to be for her and for him. I can't wait to read more. Good luck with the contest.
She sat down on the old sagging sofa, drinking and weeping. (you can omit 'down' it's understood)
She took him to the centre on the Friday afternoon and said good-bye. (goodbye)
She knew that she had reached breaking point, and that she could not continue. (you can omit both 'that' neither is needed)
She was told that he had probably had a stroke in the womb which had arrested his development. (you can omit 'that')
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you for sharing this with us. My heart goes out to this child and also to Sheryl. I understand how hard this had to be for her and for him. I can't wait to read more. Good luck with the contest.
She sat down on the old sagging sofa, drinking and weeping. (you can omit 'down' it's understood)
She took him to the centre on the Friday afternoon and said good-bye. (goodbye)
She knew that she had reached breaking point, and that she could not continue. (you can omit both 'that' neither is needed)
She was told that he had probably had a stroke in the womb which had arrested his development. (you can omit 'that')
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you, Barbara, for your careful and thoughtful review and suggestions. Always very much appreciated. Wendy
Comment from damommy
My goodness! What a story. Is this how you came by your foster son? All through the story, I felt it was someone we should know, and all the time, it was you taking in that little boy. You are a remarkable woman, Wendy!
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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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My goodness! What a story. Is this how you came by your foster son? All through the story, I felt it was someone we should know, and all the time, it was you taking in that little boy. You are a remarkable woman, Wendy!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you so very much Yvonne. Yes, this is his story, and I hope to write the complete account this year; not all of it will be easy reading.
I appreciate your very kind review.
Wendy
Comment from Paul McFarland
I should have guessed it from the start. You deserve ten stars for what you did. I can't imagine the challenges that you have had to overcome. I am in awe.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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I should have guessed it from the start. You deserve ten stars for what you did. I can't imagine the challenges that you have had to overcome. I am in awe.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Thank you so much Paul. I greatly appreciate the gift and honour of six stars. That was just the beginning. Far worse is to come. I hope you'll keep reading.
Wendy
Comment from Mrs. KT
Good morning, Wendy,
As much as it pained me to read your well-crafted work, in my heart I knew that the ending would be positive and that you were sharing with readers your journey with your beloved son...
I found it interesting that this little boy's name is not revealed to the reader.. or I missed it. But his anonymity makes his story even more tragic for this reader.
You also do a marvelous job of working through Sheryl's emotions.
One tiny nit:
She was still too fragile t (to) be his carer.
Looking forward to the next chapters, Wendy.
Thank you for sharing.
diane
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Good morning, Wendy,
As much as it pained me to read your well-crafted work, in my heart I knew that the ending would be positive and that you were sharing with readers your journey with your beloved son...
I found it interesting that this little boy's name is not revealed to the reader.. or I missed it. But his anonymity makes his story even more tragic for this reader.
You also do a marvelous job of working through Sheryl's emotions.
One tiny nit:
She was still too fragile t (to) be his carer.
Looking forward to the next chapters, Wendy.
Thank you for sharing.
diane
Comment Written 07-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2024
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Yes, I kept him anonymous for this chapter, but he will be named in the next (but not his real name, for privacy reasons. Otherwise all is true). Thanks for picking up the typo as well. I greatly appreciate your positive review, and I thank you for the gift and honour of six stars.
Wendy