My Cousin Saved My Life — And She Never Knew It
Marsha died 42 years ago. She never knew that she saved my life and made me whole again.
Marsha was a beautiful girl who had a shining light. She never knew how much I loved her. She never knew that she was why I learned to trust people again. This is her story.
My grandma obtained custody of me when I was three. My mother had abused me so severely that CPS terminated her parental rights. Grandma moved to Texas so she could help her daughter take care of Marsha, who had a terminal illness.
When I moved to Texas, I was a traumatized young child. I didn’t trust anyone. My mother and her husband (a former cop) had abused me severely, not feeding me for days. I had burns all over my body. My hair had to be shaved because it was so matted that no amount of brushing would untangle it.
Grandma told my Aunt Linda that I was not in a good place. When we arrived, she warned everyone to keep their distance and not overwhelm me with hugs and physical touch. Linda agreed and wanted to give me the space to get used to my new surroundings.
Marsha didn’t get the memo. She greeted me with a hug and told me she loved me “to the moon and back.” She was sorry that my mommy hurt me. She said I am her sister now, and no one…
