Staying Strong

I feel very good about myself this week. I did something I really did not want to do. I flew to Baton Rouge and publicized the lack of justice that is taking place four years after my daughter’s death. I have dreaded going to that city, driving on the same highway where she was murdered, facing the reality I have known for four years. I was really stressed, feverish, tired and sad during this trip to Louisiana. It felt like I had left my body and Misha entered me and pushed me forward from the minute I stepped onto the plane out of Cali, Colombia. I dread the trial also, when it finally takes place. It is unimaginable to me still that my daughter was killed. I live one day at a time until I find closure in this journey for justice.

I have continued living my life with purpose since she was killed, a purpose that I want my granddaughter to observe as she grows up. I have made a plus out of a minus as my mother used to say. I went from a bitter divorce with nothing but anger and negativity surrounding me to whom I am now, a forgiving but strong woman. I have tried to inspire others with my actions and reactions to all of life’s difficulties. I have slowly made a success of my life based on who I am, not other’s perceptions of what they want me to be. I have shown others that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, even to publicizing the lack of a trial in my daughter’s death.

I now speak Spanish, have a beautiful Villa in Colombia, and a business plan to start my Hostel this summer with like-minded people who enjoy the beauty of nature as my guests. When I look back, I never thought I would end up in Colombia at this stage in my life. I accept that we as humans can not control life’s circumstances or journey, but we can make the best of every situation, even the death of a child. Now I can only hope that my publicity will bring results for my deceased child. I again ask you to write to the DA in Baton Rouge and insist that a trial does take place in June. Here is the email: Ron.Gathe@ebrda.org. I also am including the link to the news report from channel 2 WBRZ in Baton Rouge.
I will see an editorial soon in the newspaper The Advocate about the lack of a trial going into the fifth year. I am proud of what I accomplished. I intend to keep publicizing this until I see results for Misha, even though it is so difficult accept and face.
Please click on this link to view the video: http://www.wbrz.com/videoplayer/?video_id=18796&categories=231%2C58%2C135%2C95%2C66