Success Stories: Spirit

There are certain people whose character and spirit are simply remarkable. In the face of adversity, they shine. This is the story of one of our most memorable past clients. She bravely achieved her goals and ultimately gained her independence thanks in part to The Cathedral Center.

All she wanted was her independence. Originally from Cuba – she came to America and made Milwaukee her home. She held a job, enjoyed a circle of friends and invested in a relationship that one day would change everything. The abuse started slowly eventually escalating to the point of no return. She finally reached her breaking point, and killed her abuser in self-defense.

Independence was put on hold while she served her sentence, earning work release for good behavior. Her challenges, however, were not over. With only one month remaining in her work release program, she found herself helplessly watching as her independence once again hung in the balance. While on a work release van, she found herself a victim once again – this time of kidnapping, car theft and great personal harm. She escaped the kidnappers and she ran.

She ran and ran until she could not run anymore. She found herself in Florida with family and friends who helped her during this trying time. Many years pass and she raises a daughter. She continues to carry the guilt of running from the work release van like it was yesterday. She is now 63 years old and decides that in order to be free from the guilt, she must return to Milwaukee and turn herself in to complete her sentence.

Upon her return to Milwaukee, she finds herself alone. She is baffled as to how to proceed – police neither took her into custody nor released her from past charges. Her one-time circle of friends in Milwaukee now broken, she had no where to turn. She made contact with The Cathedral Center and was provided the safe shelter and support she needed.

Through all of this, she became a leader – leading her fellow Cathedral Center clients through example. She followed the rules and made sure others did, too. She touched her fellow clients and our staff with her attitude, she motivated others to make positive change in their own lives.

Finally, she was able to make peace with the legal system and received documentation that she completed her sentence. She is now living in Florida. She is proud of her daughter who serves her country in the military. She maintains contact with our staff and reports that “life is good."