After the Beginning

The horror of it all was that he continued to tell us he was fine. “I’m fine Mom. Dad, tell mom I’m just fine!”

Knowing in our hearts that things were not right with him, we continued to believe him. We didn’t want to derail his career path. We didn’t want to interfere in his new independence.

We continued to kidnap him and get him alone in Morgantown. For a while the crazy emails stopped.

Then the call came.

I’d just come in from the office and the phone rang. It was Ian’s house-mother in Morgantown.

“Hello Roberta. How are you?


“I’m fine?”

“Roberta, I’m calling to let you know there is a situation with Ian.”

“What’s wrong?!”

“Well, he is currently holed up with his councilor at the student union.”

“What???!!!”

“Yes. I’m sorry to report to you, he was found giving away all of his personal food and walking up to other students saying…’Only God can help me now.’…I thought I should call.”

“You thought you should finally call me NOW?!!! I don’t have time to talk to you now. Call my attorney in the future. I have to get off the phone and contact my husband. Go to hell.”

I got hold of Dan before he could get home.

He drove to Morgantown in deep fog, praying all the way that he would get there in time.

Ian was out of the Student Union and had been admitted to Ruby Memorial. Dan called me when he’d seen our boy, standing rigid by the bed, refusing water, refusing relaxation.

The next day, my dear husband had to go to court. He begged they relinquish my adult son into his custody on a promise that we would have him committed in this, his hometown area.

The President of the college agreed. In hindsight, I might have OWNED West Virginia University had he not taken that stance.

Dan piled the boy into the car, stared the long drive home…and called me to make arrangements for his commitment.

Jesus.