When senior Katie Tossel arrived in Oxford in October, she had just began a new chapter in her life, one she hadn’t anticipated.
Tossel was in the middle of her fourth hour class at Lakeland High School when Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies took her out of class.
Her mother has advanced multiple sclerosis and had been taken to the hospital for a health emergency.
Child Protective Services and her mother decided it was time Tossel needed a guardian. Her mom knew she couldn’t take care of her anymore and couldn’t manage her own health.
Tossel’s dad died from a stroke in March 2008 and the next option was her mom’s immediate family.
‘My head was rushing,? Tossel remembered about having to leave her mom and losing her house, her pets. ‘I really didn’t know what to do.?
After staying with a family member for a few days she came to Oxford to stay with her aunt, Connie Ginste.
‘Prior to Katie coming here, my daughter’s husband walked out,? said Ginste. Her daughter and two grandchildren were already living in the house and Ginste’s husband had died in June 2007.
‘We were coping with all of these losses when Katie came to stay with us,? she added.
Ginste had to figure out an area in the house to make into a bedroom for Tossel. She had a room off to the side of the main hallway she had been planning to turn into an office and decided it would be her room.
The only furniture in the room was a armoire and two bookcases and needed to be made into a room Tossel could live in and feel comfortable in.
A friend gave her the phone number for Yatooma’s Foundation for Kids for additional help. The foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing guidance, stability, and financial assistance to families with children who have suddenly lost one or both parents.
Yatooma’s Foundation came right out and interviewed them.
They sent them a gift certificate so they could get bedding, pillows and curtains for Tossel’s room.
‘I think probably the best thing they gave us was counseling,? said Ginste. ‘She had changes and needed somebody to talk to.?
Tossel admitted she went into shock for the first month and then explained the details of the situation was starting to sink in.
Her mom was no longer in the hospital and was moved to a nursing home and Tossel went from seeing her mom everyday to talking to her on the phone and seeing her once a week.
Tossel said at first she didn’t want to talk to a counselor but admitted it helped.
‘I was able to talk to someone who was distant from the whole situation, who had knowledge on how to help people,? she said. ‘I went there for a few months and I was gradually getting better at talking about it and getting all of my feelings out.?
Ginste saw changes take place, her niece was less withdrawn and quiet, her attitude had changed as well as her focus – her grades went from Ds to As and Bs.
Before Tossel’s junior school year finished, Yatooma’s Foundation called to see if she was going to prom. When she said yes, they sent her to Project Prom Princess at Somerset Mall to pick a dress.
‘There were so many dresses,? she said. ‘It was hard to pick which one. The people there were so nice, too.?
She arrived to prom on May 15, her birthday, in a black and white strapless dress. ‘It had flowers, silver, rhinestones and beads, she added. ‘I really did feel like a princess.?
Yatooma’s Foundation had also provided Christmas gifts for Tossel and invited the entire family to a Christmas party they hosted.
‘It was just nice to be thought of at that time,? said Ginste.
Tossel is going to join the Oxford Marching Band and is looking for a summer job to pay for college.
Tossel looks forward to her weekly visits with her mom.
‘We talk,? she said. ‘I sometimes read to her. We joke around like we usually do. She really misses me a lot. We talk every day and I can tell she misses the fact that I am not right there.?