Bruce Brown sets a somber scene in The Group Home. A young couple stands with their toddler son on the steps of Alberta’s oldest mental institution. Cold air bites. Breath puffs out visible and quick. They stare up at the huge building. Minutes tick by in silence. Finally gather nerve to ring the doorbell. Wait feels endless. Doors swing open. Small older nurse appears. Middle-aged doctor in white coat joins her. Welcome the family. Paperwork all done. Staff promise best care. Parents stop here. No farther. Child becomes ward of province. Permanent resident now. Last time they see their adopted son. Embrace tight. Hold hands. Start down long staircase. Mother wipes tears from eyes and cheeks. Turns to husband. Speaks soft.
Parents Question Their Tough Choice
Words spill out heavy with doubt. Have we failed as parents. Did we do everything possible. Ensure son got best medical and psychological care. Why feel like more could help. Never felt such sadness. Pray boy never remembers this day. If he does learn to forgive us. Heartache lingers in every step away. Institution looms behind. Decision weighs like stone. Adopted son left behind. No turning back. Staff reassured but words ring hollow now. Winter chill matches inner freeze. Couple descends. Tears flow free. Husband silent. Mother voices regrets. Could have done more. Help him. Sadness peaks. Prayer for forgetfulness. Forgiveness.
Staff Welcomes with Reassurances
Great doors open wide. Diminutive nurse and physician greet. All necessary paperwork completed. Hospital staff reassure parents. Child receives best care. They will not accompany him farther. This marks the end. Parents muster courage earlier to ring bell. Now face reality. Breath accelerated. Visible in cold. Stared at monolith before. Took in details. Now hand over toddler. He stays. They go. Embrace for moments. Hold hands. Descend staircase. Mother turns. Softly questions failure. Everything possible done. More help possible. Sadness overwhelms. Pray for no memory. Or forgiveness if remembered.
Lingering Sadness and Hopes for Forgiveness
Descent continues slow. Tears wiped away. Mother speaks again. Failed as parents. Did everything to ensure best care. Feel could do more. Such sadness now. Pray boy forgets. Learns to forgive if not. Institution fades behind. Decision final. Ward of province. Permanent. Couple walks on. Breath still visible. Cold morning etches memory. Heart heavy. Doubts swirl. Medical psychological care enough. More possible. Sadness unmatched. Prayer echoes. Forget this day. Forgive us.