I have a mental illness and Amanda R. is my social worker here in Kansas City, Missouri. Although for the most part I'm okay, I have certainly put Amanda through the ringer for the four years she's been my social worker. I've definitely confused her, and in my mind I'm sure I had her going crazy. There were days where I would leave 10 or 11 messages on her voice mail that she would discover when she came in the office the next day. Much of my behavior was due to me not taking my medication, and/or drinking.
Through it all, though, Amanda has been a real source of inspiration for me. In the last six months I have come to realize that she has never wavered in her support for me as a client and never threw my case away, even though there were moments when I had hoped she would so I can prove to myself that I was not worth being worked on. I am learning to be stable and am starting to become a great part of society. I am finally at a place where I want to do good things and thrive. I have managed to stay on medication (although I'm not always perfect). I don't drink now even though I want to. I keep my calls to her office phone to a minimum unless I am feeling too frustrated to deal with issues.
I want everyone to know my story because Amanda R. is the hero in my life. Had she given up on me like others in the past have done, I likely would have hurt myself. Amanda has always been the biggest source of support in my life. She always makes time to listen to me and others. Again: thank you for saving my life Amanda.
Submitted by Anonymous
We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.
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