extradition, trial, justice

Big words, heavy words....

Juan Cruz is being extradited to stand trial for the murder of Rose Marie Woolwine. A murder which took place in 1989 and was covered in a Dateline story.

Rose Marie Woolwine, Rosie, was my sister. The twin sister of Ruby Ann Woolwine. The daughter Rebecca Lugo. The sister of Jimmy, Chucky(RIP), Donald, Felice, Maria, Juan and Angel. The mother of Sarah, Theresa and Joey. They were so little when she was taken from us.

Every time we get a step closer to justice, I feel the need to take a step back to remember who Rosie was. When Rosie passed away, I moved to Ann Arbor. Shortly after I began attending community college. One of the first classes I took was a speech class and one assignment was a eulogy. I wrote a eulogy for Rosie. It was beautiful, profound and sad. I cried when reciting it in class. The whole class cried with me. That eulogy was shortly after that lost, I have no idea where it went. I have other papers and speeches from then. I wish it would turn up. I pray that it would.

But who was Rosie. Is there any way to let those of you who never knew her to understand who she was? I doubt it.

Rosie was passionate, stubborn and a little conceited. She loved life and her family. As a child we called her nosie rosie. She would be the first one to the kitchen when mom went grocery shopping to see what goodies were there. Her and Ruby were so close, they would fight something fierce with eachother, but if you tried to intervene.... Let's just say it would be bad for you. The twins as they were called, would be fiercely loyal to eachother, I guess all twins are. They were so tough in high school, that when I went a few years later, I never had to fight. I just stood tough and held to their reputation. I think others also knew that if they touched me there would be hell to pay later. Remember we grew up in Detroit, tough streets. But Rosie and Ruby could hold their own.

They got into lots of trouble, had lots of friends and enjoyed life together. They were both so pretty, I always felt so plain. Ruby is and has always been so my gorgeous older sister. But Rosie was different, she carried herself with such confidence that when she walked in the room, you knew she was there. Her smile was something else. Her passion for life was immeasurable. When I picture her now, I see a beautiful smile and eyes that light up the room.

Not only does my heartbreak for losing Rosie. My heart breaks for Ruby. I want the twins back. I know that will never happen. I know if Ruby is reading this she is crying with me.

I feel Rosie's presence sometimes. I know she is at peace and that these steps for justice are a good thing.

May God Bless you and your family. Please pray for ours.

Why the democrats may lose the next election! As always, I will start with telling you who I am. I am a middle class(low end) middle aged white woman, with some hispanic heritage. I also have to say I am fairly uneducated, slightly well read and more than a little crazy. If you can't already tell by my ramblings. So read on if you like. I tend to lean democrat, which I eluded to in earlier blogs. I say a moderate or conservative democrat. I do have many issues with the democrat party, but less than the issues I have with the republican party. The republicans will play to the fact that we forget. They count on it. They will hammer their message home, over and over, using their pat phrases. They will spin messages to fit their agenda. They use phrases like "Christian" and "family" values. As a strong christian catholic, there is much about the rep. party that concerns me. But they are effective in getting their message out. On the other hand, we have the democrats. Their message either gets lost or doesn't even get out there. I believe in the democratic voting system. As much as it may bother me, if the republicans are better at playing the game, then they win. If the democrats don't wake up. If they don't present a unified front with a strong message. If they don't remind us that the economy was in trouble long before Obama took office. Also, that the first stimulus package was enacted by George Bush and went to wall street. That package had no accountability and we saw none of that money again. Democrats need to remind voters that the republicans vowed to cause the failure of the Obama administration. They didn't care about the common good or the economy. The republicans are holding true to this vow. They are winning. Maybe there are more republicans or those leaning republicans. I tend to not think so, but I could be wrong. I personally think the gerrymandering of the districts help the republican party. Again they know how to play the game. Until the rules are changed, the democrats need to wake up and figure it out. If they can't then maybe they should lose elections. On a side note, when I write my blogs, it is straight from the heart. The idea just sort of comes to me. I cant force myself to sit down and write. Usually if I do that, I get nothing. When a thought or a rant comes to me, I just write it down. Sometimes on scrap sheets of paper. The reason I started writing is because it is cathartic for me to get these thoughts written out. Honestly I would rather not write about politics. But right now that is where my mind goes. I hope you enjoy reading my rants. Agree or disagree, I hope it makes you think.

The great doc Oz

E coli! On my toothbrush! Are you kidding me? I was watching Dr. Oz on Good Morning America. I find him to be a bit of the alarmist. I think he wants to shock us into behaving. Dr. Oz and Robin Roberts were discussing how often to replace your toothbrush. The wise doc says replace every 3 months. His reasoning, e coli or fecal particles get on your toothbrush over time. Mostly because of the toilet flushing, which sprays particles into the air. A few things bother me about this line of reasoning. One, how many particles build up? How much is too much? For me, one particle of fecal matter is too much. It seems to make more sense to put a cap on your toothbrush, keep your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet and close the toilet lid when flushing. Maybe do all of the above. Why not stop the particles from getting there in the first place. Two, does everything else in the bathroom end up with e coli contamination.  What about the door knob? The towels? Hand towels? I know you wash these things probably more than your toothbrush and they aren't being used in your mouth! But still. Can you imagine what the OCD and germaphobes are doing now?! Then I'm listening to the radio and the announcer says "you have to watch dr Oz today." She continues, "what your kids are drinking may be detrimental to their health. Don't miss today's Dr Oz!" Really isn't that the old joke about newscasters. "something in your house may be killing your family! Tune in at 11 to find out" 

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins? If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults.                                                              Sirach 27:30-28:7 Such a powerful first reading today. How hard for me to hear. Forgiveness is something we are called to. It is probably the most challenging.  As I sat there with other families, older people and younger people, I wondered about this word forgiveness. We sit there, the sinners, the fallen, the hypocrites and the lost. We sit there because we long to see His face. We know what we ought to do but also know how short we come. We listen, we learn, we pray, we hope. September 11th, we all remember. How do you forgive for such a tragic loss, for such a hateful thing?   Don't confuse forgiveness and justice. Justice is appropriate. Just like when we do something wrong, we are held accountable. We have to make it right. Because someone is forgiven doesn't mean we don't hold them accountable. We do and we should. Forgiveness is letting go of the anger and wrath. For wanting something better for that person or persons than they have given us. That is where the challenge comes, that is where true love comes from. Wanting that person to acknowledge their sin and make it right, for their salvation and the salvation of the whole world. How difficult!  Impossible even, except for with the Grace of God.  How do you forgive, or even consider forgiveness, for someone who murdered your sister? Left her like a animal, alone and hurt! How do you forgive someone who hurt a small child? An innocent little child full of wonder and trust. We humans have found many ways to hurt, traumatize and victimize one another. Such atrocities, How do find forgiveness? The word is so hard to say and hear, yet alone consider. The anger and wrath are right there. But this is what we are called to do, this is what love commands.  Christ beaten, spit upon, stripped of dignity, and nailed to a cross. He was truly human and felt every whip, felt every nail. He was in excruciating pain. He was innocent. He did nothing wrong. He dying words "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do". As he was dying, he prayed for those who hurt him. He forgave them and wanted more for them, for us than we gave Him.   There are incredible stories of forgiveness. St. Maria Goretti, on her deathbed forgave the man who tried to rape her and stabbed her. It took years for the man to repent. The repentant man finally begged her mother for forgiveness. At Maria's canonization in 1950, the man stood with her mother. Pope John Paul II after being shot, visited and forgave the man who tried to take his life. There are stories out of Rowanda of tremendous forgiveness. Strong, faith filled people trying to live their call and make the world better.  I can't even fathom the power and grace it took to forgive.  I pray for those graces. It is easier for me to forgive someone who hurt me than someone who hurt someone I love. Maybe that is true for most of us. I'm not sure.  God sometimes makes things so obvious. He makes it hard to ignore Him. I know he wants forgiveness in my heart. He wants me to let go of the anger, the hatred, the wrath. I know that He will help me and He will stand by me. I know all of this but still struggle. I know what I ought to do but don't know if I am strong enough. He knows I am strong enough. 

by Amy Bishop on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 5:17am
Caitlyn's Story

I wanted to put together all my "notes" and start from the beginning of Caitlyn's journery and share with everyone the amazing road we have travelled down and mostly the miracles that we have seen and how one little baby changed our lives forever. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who has prayed or asked about us, or to anyone who just wants to hear a wonderful story of faith, hope, and miracles!!

Part One-Birth to ECMO surgery

May 25, 2011 - 8:06 a.m. Caitlyn Rae Bishop was born with a tiny cry. Her body was very blue/purple. But she was crying so i assumed she was fine. She layed on my chest for a few seconds then was taken away to the nursery. (at this time i still had no idea anything was wrong). It took another 20 mins or so to finish up in the operating room. When I was ready to go to recovery we came out of the OR doors and there i saw 10 people starring down at my daughter with a puzzled look on their face. Then my eyes met nathan's eyes and i knew something was wrong. After asking Nathan several times he explained to me that she was having a hard time breathing when she isn't stimulated. I sat in recovery which is across the hall from the nursery and i could see Caitlyns bed. I couldn't see her, just the bed. I saw a nurse close the curtain really fast and yelled for more help. My heart simple dropped to my feet. I think i was in shock. They came in and said she needed to be transfered to St. Louis Children's Hospital because her lungs aren't working. We called our parents and let them know what was going on. Once ARCH arrived with the Children's transport team it took 2 hours to get Caitlyn stable. She fought them for most of that time trying to get a breathing tube down her throat. That is when we were aware she is a fighter. I finally got moved to my "room" and waiting nervous as ever to see my daughter. The transport team brought her by on their way out but i couldn't see her because she was up so high and i had just had the c-section so i couldn't move to see. They quickly took her out of my room because my own alarms were going off. Nathan took off then to go meet Caitlyn at Children's. The Children's doctor that was on board said it would be a 7 min flight and they would call my cell phone when they arrive and get her inside. Then they left. About 10 mins later i just happened to look out my window and i didn't hear anything but i saw the helicopter taking my daughter. That memory is forever burned in my brain. When i see a helicopter I always think of that moment. I had called my family and ask that nobody come down. I felt i could handle it better when i didn't have people there. no idea why but i just felt that way. It was a very long night alone waiting to hear from Nathan or the Doctors. Everytime they called it was something new going on and i was so scared and felt so alone. I had Nathan send me a picture of her and the picture i got wasn't my little princess, it was a very sick baby with many wires and tubes and no skin showing due to the cool down process that they were doing because her brain was swollen. The next couple of days I worked on getting out of bed and walking to prepare myself for the trip to St. Louis. I had been kept up to date about Caitlyns condition by Nathan and the doctors. Finally Friday came and I was able to leave the hospital earlier than normal. My husband picked me up and took me to children's. That car ride there was painful for many reasons. Physically because of the surgery i just had 2 days ago and then emotionally because i knew i was about to get a good look at my daughter for the first time and I was very scared. Would I cry? Would I scream? Well when we got there we met with Dr. Inder (our favorite doctor) and i was in a wheelchair so she got down on her knees and explained to me what was going on and explained that Caitlyn was a mystery. When one of the top neurology doctor, in the top ranked 6th hospital tells you that, you fall apart. I was so scared and of course blamed myself. It could of only been my fault because i carried her for 9 months and i was what she was living on. I had to put on a protective scrub type clothes because they didn't know if caitlyn was carrying some type of diease. I walked in to see my sweet baby girl. small tears rolled down even though i tried holding them back as much as i could. Her beautiful black hair was covered completely by the EEG. She had a breathing tube and wires everywhere. She had Iv's in her legs, arms, head. Basically every body part. The next few weeks were up and down. We had some good days then quickly they turned bad. We were called to the hospital a couple of times and they said "you need to get down here now because she is getting worse very fast" They kept talking about this ECMO treatment because all the breathing machines just weren't enough for her. She was on a machine that gently vibrates her so she didn't get fluid built up in her lungs. But like many time Caitlyn bounced back and ECMO was off the table, no more talk of that. A few weeks later They had discovered something with Caitlyn's lungs wasn't right and they had started talking lung transplant. When i heard those words my heart literally fell to the floor. I felt like i had been shot right in the back. June 15, 2011 They asked to do a lung biopsy which we had thought wasn't anything major. Well with all her issues they had to make a large (for caitlyn's size) incision under her left armpit and they took a piece of her lung out and put in a chest tube to drain any air that might of gotten in while they were doing the surgery. We were told it is a risky surgery etc. and that she might not survive but she did. She did great. I was so proud of her all i wanted to do was hug her, but she was on minimal stimulation which means we can't rub her or talk loud and no holding. That night we went home and had matthew with us and tried to have a normal few hours. Then June 16, 2011 at 3:00 a.m. we got a phone call from the doctors at children's telling us that Caitlyn's heart rate was dropping and i honestly couldn't tell you what else they said. I was so tired from not having slept in a few days and i just couldn't remember what they said besides that they are going to call us back if something didn't work. 30 mins later we got a horrible phone call saying get down there now they are doing chest compressions on her and bagging her (which means cpr). I don't think i have ever moved so fast. We had to get matthew up and drop him off at my parents house then we flew down to stl and arrived 45 mins later. Dr Inder was already there. By then Caitlyn had bounced right back again. What happened was air somehow got in the chest tube or the chest tube failed and she developed a big air pocket which pushed her heart over and collapsed her right lung. She had gone into heart failure. We hung around that morning and it turned into night when Dr. Inder had came in with the results of the biopsy. She said it looked like adult lungs that have been exposed to agent orange in vietnam and blown up and put back together. Yikes! all that in a baby's lung. She said the cause was because of being on 100% oxygen since the day of birth. But that was needed at the time to keep her alive. Dr. Inder got down on her knees and explained to me that it was reversable but there was only one way to do that, and that was to place Cailtyn on ECMO for 2 weeks. We had the surgeon that had done cailtyn's biopsy come in and talk to us about ECMO. She told us that there is a huge risk of doing this surgery on caitlyn because of bleeding. Being on ECMO you are on a blood thinner and the biopsy she had just had was a risk, a big risk of bleeding. The surgeon also said that she had never had a patient come off ECMO successfully. She said that if it were her daughter she would not do it because caitlyn likely wouldn't survive the surgery and once she develops a brain bleed or a bleed anywhere else they are done and there is nothing to do to fix that. But without this surgery Caitlyn was going to die. We had a very hard decision as parents. We were confused and it showed. We had several nurses, social workers, etc. in the room with us but the most important person we had was Dr. Inder. She looked me in my eyes and said "Amy you know me, and you know i know your daughter better than anyone else here. She has us running out of options. Caitlyn is at the edge of a cliff ready to jump and we are trying everything to pull her back in. I know that she can survive this ECMO and I know it is her ONLY CHANCE to survive." After she said that I looked at the surgeron and said go ahead and do the surgery. I was so scared if i had made the right choice and if the choice i had made would kill her. I had seriously lost my mind for a few mins. all i could do was cry and say over and over this wasn't supposet to happen to her. she wasn't suppose to be sick. There were 2 great nurses inside the room at that time Lynn and Karen. They said to each other lets let mom hold her. I hadn't held caitlyn yet except in the OR room but only for a few seconds. With the breathing machine she was one it was not a good idea to hold her but they all thought she wouldn't come out of the surgery so they wanted to give me the chance to hold her alive. When they placed her in my arms i held her bed basically and it was heavy with all the tubes etc. Dr. Inder, Lynn, and Karen had all moved her to my arms and made sure her vitials were good and they walked out and shut our door which is all glass and they just stood there watching her monitor as i sat there holding her and telling her how proud her daddy and i were and how we would be waiting right here for her when she gets out of surgery. I remember telling her to be strong and to keep fighting because i would be right by her side fighting with her. I kissed her for what i was afraid that last time and told her how much she meant to me and how long i had wanted her.

They told us to call our parents and get them down there. As we were walking out of her room (because it was a bedside operation) the actual surgery that was going to preform the surgery said "i don't think this will work, but i'll do what i can" oh geez thats nice. So we went to wait in a sleep room then went downstairs to meet our families and by that time the nurses had called us that they were done with the surgery. Nobody said if she made it or not, so we went running to the NICU and running back to her room. There were tons of surgery crew around but nobody was smiling and nobody was saying anything. Finally we found Sandra one of our favorite docs that we had, had since day 1. and she gave us 2 thumbs up. Ahhhh my heart started to beat again. Soon after we were able to go in and see her. Her room had been taken up by the huge ECMO machine and her body layed there lifeless. no movement of breathing or of her heart beating. Thats all ECMO's job. It is a heart and lung bypass machine to give her body the ultimate rest. She had 2 huge tubes coming out of her little neck. the tubes were long and were filled with her blood. It was very scary to see. But we knew that had to be done to save her life.

I grew up on welfare. I grew up using food stamps and eating focus hope food. I still don't like King Vitamin cereal.  

It really bothers me when people say disparaging things about the welfare system. My mother, a single mom, never gave up trying. She was also trying to go back to work or back to school. Is she or her kids lazy? Absolutely not. We all work hard and try to improve our lives. 

I remember being treated like scum. In Detroit there were unfortunately a lot of folks on welfare, so I had a lot of friends also struggling. But there was still something embarrassing about using food stamps. We all knew that being on welfare made us somewhat unworthy. 

I am grateful for the New Deal. I don't think it damaged our country. It saved families like mine. There were times when I was hungry as a child. Thankfully not very often and not for very long. I would rather live in a country where people have access to assistance, then having kids go hungry. And we do have kids in this country going hungry. Everyone that gets help is one small victory. 

Are there people who take advantage of the system? Yes! Should there be rules and regulations to control that? Yes!  But I would rather one lowlife get through if it means more families could be helped. 

If those families that are struggling live in a environment with substandard schools and an overworked police system, the hope for improving their lives is more challenging. I want our government involved, I want serious action. I am willing to distribute the wealth, to give government more control. For me a balanced approach is necessary. More money from the government to help families get on their feet, more job training, and education opportunities. But I also like the idea of Emergency Financial Managers coming in and getting schools and cities back on track. If handled appropriately a balanced approach can make the difference. 

Take the billions of dollars in government subsidies that big oil companies get, while they make billions in profits, and put half of that in a system to offer education and job training to displaced workers and those receiving welfare. Big business likes unemployment, it keeps wages down if you have more looking for jobs. They are not interested in helping and having low unemployment. 

I see and hear things like "those people" drain our system. "They" need to get a job. How dare "they" have a cell phone, television, or nice clothes. If you live on welfare you should look and act like the substandard person you are. You should walk around in a potato sack with your head held down. You are not allowed one shred of dignity or anything nice. If this is how someone is supposed to feel, How are they ever supposed to feel worthy of a better life? 

We need to treat people with dignity, love and respect. Instead of assuming and judging, try to understand where that person is coming from, and how you or I could help improve their life. Yes we are our brothers keeper's. The success of Detroit is vital to the success of Ann Arbor and all of Michigan. The success of our fellow americans is vital to all of our success.

What if.....

It was the 1940's, you were a very young mexican woman with no rights whatsoever. You were living very modestly in Detroit with your husband. Surrounded by his family. But your family spoiled you growing up. You don't know how to keep a house or manage children. To make matters worse your husband's family hates you. They treat you horribly. Things are getting worse and worse. You are depressed. You try to leave, he finds you and brings you back. 

In the midst of this depression and horrible situation, you try to take your own life. You love your kids but don't know what to do. Finally you decide to leave, to save yourself. You will get yourself together then come back for the kids. He won't let you see them once you leave. Luckily your sister is caring for them while he is at work. You get to see them secretly.

He finds out and doesn't let your sister watch them anymore. Things are getting very bad. You decide to leave the state. Again once you get things together, you can come back for the kids. Right now if you take them you will all starve. You have nothing, no rights, no money, no where to live. 

You struggle to get back on your feet. To grow up and figure out what to do. The years go by. You know that they are growing up without you. The distance grows wider and deeper. This chasm is too great.

How do you feel? Do you forget about your children? Do you wonder about them? Do you know how bad it was for them? Did you completely move on? In the creation of your new family and life, do you ever think about your other family? 16 grandchildren, do you wonder about them? Or is it all to overwhelming. Was it easier to move on without thinking about it?

This is my interpretation. My thoughts based on stories I have heard. I try not to judge. I am not in the situation. I try to empathize. 

What if......