Monday, August 31, 2009The longest day of my lifeAugust 28th, 2009 was the day my husband and I finally chose to have our daughter Keaton escorted away from our home to Manchester Center, VT. We chose Bromley Brook School which is in the southwestern section of Vermont in the Green Mountains. It is a theraputic boarding school for girls. Keaton has had a rough two years after blowing out both of her knees while dancing. She had to have complete reconstructive surgery on both knees. Her friend base changed and she has been spiraling out of control ever since. She is going to get better and our family will be united. I will not let her fall through the cracks. God please be with us as we begin our journey.
Keaton was picked up by Wes and Claire. Wes is a 27 year old, strapping 6'3" body builder and Claire is a 23 year old college student. Wes was the enforcer and Claire was calm but firm. Keaton was sound asleep and was totally taken by surprise. Tim and I walked into her room and I gently woke her up, and took her phone. I said, "Keaton, I want you to kjnow I love you very much. There have been things going on lately that I have been very worried about. We have chosen to put you in a program and send you to a beautiful school. It is non-negotiable!." She looked up at me and said, "You have got to be fucking kiding me? FUCK YOU!" Then Tim said,
"Keaton, I love you very much!" and she said, "FUCK YOU TOO!" Claire and Wes told us to go out of the room and they got her ready. I kept hearing her say, "You're ruining my life! I want to talk to my parents!" When she was ready and they were walking her out of the bedroom, Keaton took off running and Wes grabbed her. She yelled, "Let go of me you're hurting me!" and then she kicked Wes in the shin. Claire told her to calm down and Wes said, "If you don't calm down, we will handcuff you." Keaton continued to say, "I want to talk to my parents!" Wes told her she had to get into the car first. She finally went...and Wes came back in to get her things and said,
"Keaton would really like to talk to both of you, but I think it would just get her agitated all over again." We knew in our hearts it wouldn't accomplish anything and she would try to manipulate the situation by crying and telling us she would never do it again. We did not go out to the car. They all left our home at 3:15 am. Wes texted us at 4:50 and told us they were through security and sitting at the gate. At 6 am they were on the plane and Keaton slept most of the way to Chicago. Their flight to Albany was delayed 3 hours due to rain between Chicago and Albany. They finally arrived in Albany at 8:30 pm and drove to Manchester, Vt. to Bromley Brook School. They arrived at 10pm. A therapist named Loree called me to tell us Keaton had arrived and was doing well. She had been introduced to her mentor and her roommate Hailey. Loree went to her new room and said, "I think I should call your parents and let them know you are safe. What are their names and phone number? Do you want me to tell them anything?" Keaton told her to tell us she is very mad at us.
Loree asked Keaton how she felt about polo shirts and khaki's and Keaton made a face. The mentor and roommate laughed and said, "We love the new girls!" Keaton said, "My dad has always tried to get me to wear those shirts!" Loree left us with a good feeling that even though Keaton is very angry...she still hasn't lost her sense of humor. When Tim and I finally got to bed, it was a relief!
Posted by Terry Rees-Riley at 8:17 PM
