This is a true story about how Children's Aid Society affected the life of mine and my daughter's

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Kate & Ava Duffus

I had a healthy pregnancy and was very determined to have a strong and vigorous child. I was willing to do anything to provide for my child. I had a beautiful Nursery waiting and a handful of supportive people both friends and family, including the family memebers of my Brother in law

Family members were blessed, my dad especially being his first grandchild, and Dad's Mom, my Grama Jackie Duffus, her  My daughter and I were in the company of Ava's Aunt, my sister and Ava's Father along with an amazing healthcare staff.  A special thank you to Dr. Teresa Goldenberg of North York Family Health Care Practice.

My Uncle, Paul Gooley( my mother's brother) has a played a significant role in mine and Ava's life with an ongoing support and a genuine interest in our lives. An extra thank you goes out to the Gooley family who has gone above and beyond in reaching out to help in the process of raising Ava and the unfortunate fight in bringing her home where she belongs... with her Mama. Their thoughtulness would never leave my heart, but left me with stregnth to not give up. Thank you

Ava was an early bloomer, she learned to crawl at 5.5 months and was just short of 9 months when she took her first steps....what a miracle!! 

In most cases we all assume DaDa is the first suspected word out there, but I'm extremely proud to say that my little girl took it apon herself to skip that step with a "MaMa"  i cried of course and encouraged her to do nothing but say that "Over and Over and Over again that day :)  Perhaps this is based on the fact that she knew and trusted me through and through.... no matter what CAST says Ava and I love each other and in any situation we maintained that bond.

Even in a dumpy CAS room where crack heads had hung  well they are observing there kids a I still feel it even though I dont get to see her beautiful face everyday when my eyes open and before they shut. I see Ava Duffus in my dreams every single night.

Ava was always happy, outgoing, very friendly and quite funny. She enjoyed being read too, loved the library, loved the parks, learned to ride a bike and a scooter.

Ava took swimming lessons,gymnastics, little chef classes at Loblaws, Arts and Crafts, sportball and much more....She enjoyed the same activities that every normal healthy child should have the opportunity to enjoy. Ava loved and always enjoyed her cousins ( names unmentioned ) her auntie and uncle and friends of mine and their spouses. She loved her grandpa "papy Tom" and was particularly adored her Uncle Paul, my Moms brother.  

She loved the zoo, Toronto Island, her Great Uncle Pauls cottage, camping, canoeing, parades, halloween, tobogganing, hopscotch,

waterparks, soccer or any type of ball games or sports. Ava always took interest in anything she and i did she was very eager to learn and to be taught.

She would help fold clothes, help cook and bake ( last thing we made together AT HOME was meatballs, Ava poured all the ingredients and felt very helpful ) she liked to help with grocery shopping, she would help unload the items onto the belt and help empty at home. She rode the subway like a champion, loved the street car the best though. :) Ava loved to cuddle, she called it "a snuggle." as a child I always loved to hold my mom's ear and in the irony of this is that my very special MOM,Teresa who passed away in 2006 with cancer, she too would do the same thing to my late Grandma. And so, ava did the same to my ears when we cuddled!! Wow

The truth is Ava and I were a very simple pair...we enjoyed each other. WE LOVE EACH OTHER.

I have never seen a child that was so easily pleased with simplicity.

The last weekend we spent together in our freedom; we spent time with my very best Rebecca whom Ava adores. Ava and I went to Chapters and after got a pizza to go.. "We call it a pizza party"... and watched the Disney Network. We went to the park. WE WERE NORMAL.

Ava was happy, she trusted people, she was confident, she was fearless and she felt no worry. She is a beautiful and smart girl that I encouraged her to be.

I WANT MY AVA BACK !!!!

SHE IS A GO GETTER AND ALWAYS HAD DETERMINATION IN HER LIFE