Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Lighthouse of northwest florida (fka VCA )/ Rebekah / Roloff )
Bethesda Home for Girls
HerNewDad:
--- Quote ---Hi my name is Leda Rush,I was at Bethesda in 1981-1984. . . . Does anyone remember the little girl that was there,she was 8 or 9 when her parents dropped her off.
--- End quote ---
Yes. April Ford. My wife and I adopted April in 1985. She was a joy! We lost our only son in 1976 and April filled a huge void in our lives. She is now 35, married to a wonderful guy, career Air Force, and has three boys of her own. Our grandsons are very precious to us. I am a Baptist pastor but I had no idea this type of stuff was going on! Had I known I would probably be in jail now! Nobody, but nobody, treats my kids that way and gets away with it!
I am glad so many of you have found one another on forums such as this, and that you are putting your horrible experiences behind you. I just wanted you to know there are a few (very few) good things to have come from Bethesda. Without the home, and the Gibsons, we would not have known about April, and would not have a wonderful daughter, a great son-in-law, and three terrific grandsons (one of which, the youngest, is trying to climb into my lap as I type this). :D
God bless you all.
smilinggypsyfool:
April's new dad,
Thanks for sharing this. You have no idea how much those of us who knew April worried for her.Even all these years later, when I found her ( I correspond with her some) I was given some peace. I just wanted her to be safe , happy and loved and I know she has all those things. Thanks you for taking her in for us and giving her those things. She has always been a special person. Some good things happened in spite of that place. April gaining a home was one of them.
Anne Bonney:
--- Quote from: "ledabrumley@yahoo.com" ---I am looking for any girls that were at Bethesda From the time of 1981-1984.I was there in 81 when Morris Dees came in & if u signed that paper u had to go home And they also gave everyone else the choice to stay or go.
--- End quote ---
Wow. Didn't know he got involved in this. Interesting.
--- Quote ---But then in July 1982my parents thought this was the place to send me again so off I went for one whole horrible year7-82/783.I gave birth to a son March 21,1983,I was never allowed to even see him they took him so fast.I didn't even get to hear him cry.
--- End quote ---
Now I wanna cry.
--- Quote ---I'm sorry to say this but they really didn't treat the pregnant girls right.I don't think they treated anyone right.Maybe their favorites.U know if the home helped anyone that's great.I just saw to much while I was there.I was there for the riot.Can't say I wish it didn't happen but I got to go home after it did.I just have such horrible thoughts about this place,it haunts me to this day & I'm 41 now.Please if anyone remembers me my email is ledabrumley@yahoo.com.I would love to hear good & bad stories from anyone
--- End quote ---
:(
marjie driver:
Dear April's Dad,
I am so glad you were able to reply when you did. You didn't know it but you replied exactly 2 days before the Bethesda Home For Girls Survivors 2nd annual reunion. We were all so very excited to hear the great news that she was adopted by a LOVING family. Many of us were so very upset to see such a young girl brought to the home only to have her yanked out one day without a word of what was going to happen to her. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for letting us know after all these years that she was loved, happy and healthy. :seg:
On another note, the future of the old Bethesda building is uncertain. We learned this year that it may be sold again. There are still boards there where girls from the later days (1983 - 1986) wrote on them. We tried to take as many pictures of the sayings, art work, etc. as we could. The probability of those things that were left behind being destroyed makes me sad because the messages were so poignant and personal and were basically a "proof of life" for many of us. For myself I am finished going back to the old building (unless someone really needs a shoulder to lean on for their own visit). I have healed a lot by going back the 2 times I have been there. I have discovered some memories I had repressed, and don't need to dig up any others. I figure if I blocked them out, it was my brain's way of keeping me healthy, so leave it be.
We have a group on Face Book where many girls have gathered. We have pictures (old and new) of many of us. I am still searching for many who I was close to: Katrina Rankin, Michelle Boudreax, Patricia Perry, Tammy Burgess, Regina, Mary (from Florida), Lena Zwick, Nancy Boleware, and many many others. I hold onto the fact that "the internet is forever" as the hackers say and that one day they will look for us and we will be reunited.
Keeping the faith,
Marjorie
ytmex:
I was a baby that Lester Roloff sold for $500. My birth mother was in Rebekka House in 1970 in Georgia. I have learned so much about the man who so many call a "man of God." If he was a man of God, please don't count me in.
I have searched long and hard for this information. I know that Lester made the parents he sold these babies to promise that they would NEVER tell their ill-gotten children from him (my parents KNEW what they were doing was illegal, but the did not care at the time. How many other parents who "adopted" know what they did was illegal?). In fact, if Lester had not been killed in a plane crash my adopted mother would have never told me about him.
I am seeking for a support group... Lester did not only hurt young pregnant girls he hurt their babies...
g.higgins99@yahoo.com
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