Tracy, California's other child victim

I've been agonizing over the news stories from Tracy, California this past week.  I'm sure many of you have. The loss of Sandra Cantu's life is tragic and painful. But after years of foster parenting, the piece of this story that is almost paralyzing me is the child whose name we don't know, haven't heard much about, who is the other child victim in this horrible chain of events. I am stuck on the thought of what I would do if I were now responsible for that small child.  I'm not. But someone is. I keep wondering what foster parent got a call in mid-day asking if he, she, or they could take in a 5 year old girl immediately for an indeterminate time. 

Who said yes, and then found out the child was the daughter of the accused, the friend of the victim? What foster parent is trying to provide safety and love and comfort and hope to that young girl whose life has not ended, but for whom life will never be the same. What foster parent is trying to answer the impossible questions of a five-year old struggling to make sense of what is happening to her life?  The former classmates of Sandra Cantu will go to her memorial this afternoon, will bring flowers, or balloons, will sing, cry, whatever, and then go back to their homes and be comforted by their families.  But what about this 5-year-old who also lost her friend?  She will not be comforted by her mother, for her mother is on suicide watch in jail. This child probably will not attend her friend Sandra's memorial, and even if she does, will be different from the others.. now and probably forever separated by this tragedy.

Given the realities of foster care, this 5-year-old child who may still have a teddy bear or blanket she needs to hold at night, probably has been separated from her family, from her neighborhood, possibly her town. What few possessions were packed to go with her?  What toys or clothes? What foster parent/s are trying desperately to help this child who is torn from all that is familiar, from all that might give comfort to her when she so badly needs it. Are they new to the system?  Do they have the skills and training for this situation? Does anybody?  

As we go about our days, as we see the headlines that will continue for months, I beg all of us to remember this little girl, and those who are now responsible for her care.  Bless them and bless her.  Give them the skills, the words, the gestures, to help her find hope, peace, and a sense of safety. Grant that somehow, tiny bit by tiny bit, they can help her to regain a piece of the childhood she has lost.  And while we are at it, let's remember that there are other children whose lives are equally torn by similar tragedies, less in the news, but no less devastating.