Growing Together
Story by Heidi Loof, Service
Coordinator
This year, one of Lorrie's goals was to
increase her independence in the
community, so she could spend more time
with her daughter. Since coming to
Achieve in 1997, Lorrie has stayed in
contact with her daughter, Nicole, but
has had limited time with her.
Occasionally, they would go out into the
community with staff, but these
occasions were rare.
Recently, with this goal in mind, Lorrie
started spending more time alone with
her daughter without the support of
staff. This has really allowed her to
expand her relationship with her
daughter.
They now meet in the community,
completely independent of staff, about
twice a month. They also talk on
the phone several times each day, and
have grown much closer. When you
ask Lorrie how her newfound independence
has affected her relationship with her
daughter she responds, “It’s just like
the old times when we were living
together and going places together.”
Lorrie has great memories from the
past of raising her daughter,
celebrating holidays together, helping
with homework and reading stories to
Nicole. Now, Lorrie is able to
celebrate her current life with her
grown daughter. Together, they
enjoy going out to movies, out to eat,
celebrating holidays and birthdays,
shopping, spending time together and
talking on the phone—all independently.
Lorrie says it best when she describes
how the changes with her daughter have
affected her life—in her words, “It
makes me feel good!”
