by Michael Oher
Like I said, this is just a short list that barely scrapes the surface of all the great programs out there. I feel bad that I can’t mention them all, but I hope this will at least give you some ideas of places where you can find help or offer help.
The problem of abused, neglected, and at-risk children isn’t just a challenge in the inner city or in rural communities. It’s everywhere. It’s in every neighborhood and every school. If you grew up with a loving and supportive family, think about what they gave you. Was there someone there who cheered you on and challenged you to do better? Was there someone who guided you toward good decisions and away from bad ones? Now imagine that was taken away from you. Try to imagine what your life would have been like to have none of that support there. What would you have done? Would you be enjoying the same life you have today?
This is a problem we should all care about. These kids are the next generation, for better or for worse. Let’s all do what we can to give them the best shot possible at success. Think of the difference you could make—that you may already be making—just by looking around you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Michael has experienced more in his twenty-four years than many people experience in an entire lifetime, and in order to really gain a fuller sense of all he has seen and lived we needed the help of many, many other people, ranging from family and friends to foster parents, former teachers, and DCS workers. Without their assistance we could have never helped Michael put together as complete a picture of his early life.
Ms. Bobbie Spivey is someone we cannot thank enough, not only for the time she gave us and the details she provided, but for the blood, sweat, and tears she dedicated to the Oher family and many others just like them for well over twenty years. Being a social worker is often a thankless job, but the dedication men and women in the field show is tremendous, important, and life changing. Thank you for all that you did and continue to do for the abused, neglected, and troubled children across the country.
Special thanks must be extended to Rob Johnson and Stacy Miller at the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Together with the staff there, they dedicated days searching for Michael’s records—even in the midst of the devastating Nashville floods that were impacting their city—and spent hours with us on the phone, explaining the breakdown of the system in the 1990 and how to help Michael find alternative sources of information about his past, and advising us on the delicate legal restrictions involved. Thank you, too, to Nancy Clark who put us in touch with the right people; to Zach Farrar, for his help with navigating the juvenile court system in Tennessee; and to the Shelby County Juvenile Court, for the records and documents they were able to provide.
Thank you to Velma Jones, for meeting with us and supplying us with many details about Michael’s time under her care, and to Ms. Verlene Logan, for talking to us about having Michael in her fourth-grade class. The memories you shared were fascinating and informative.
Michael’s family, especially Marcus, was invaluable, not only for the stories they shared, but also for helping to take us around to visit all the old neighborhoods. Craig Vail was a great help in that regard, too; thank you for being such a loyal friend and a strong support. Steve Henderson, you are such a hard worker and we appreciate you taking the time out of your work schedule and celebration upon having just graduated from Ole Miss to share with us some of your memories of Michael. Big Tony Henderson, thank you for making time for us, too, and for your interest and concern for Michael even as you were focusing on raising your own sons to be successful men.
To Sean, Leigh Anne, Collins, and S.J. Tuohy, thank you for all of your time and help with both stories and photos for this book. You always give us something to laugh about, and your family has certainly made an impact on many, many lives.
Of course, this story wouldn’t have caught America’s attention if not for the amazing writing of one of this country’s great writers, Michael Lewis, who penned the book The Blind Side. His book was spun into an even more amazing movie that was viewed by millions.
To Jimmy Sexton, John Haun, Heather Mundy, and everyone at Athletic Resource Management: Your help with coordinating all of the different pieces for this book was absolutely essential, and we are sincerely grateful for all of the energy, assistance, and support you provided in helping us to complete this journey into Michael’s past, as well as looking ahead to a very bright and promising future.
To Megan Newman and Miriam Rich at Penguin: Thank you for your tireless work editing this manuscript, helping us craft it into something that will have the maximum impact and truly reach people with the heart of Michael’s life and message. The great work of literary agent Scott Waxman made sure this story was told by the best possible publishing house.
Tiffany Yecke Brooks, who has been a wonderful partner during many writing projects, threw her heart and soul into this one. Her love of great stories and ability to help tell them made this come together.
The staff of the Baltimore Ravens was essential in helping us with fan mail, as well as allowing Michael the time he needed to work on this project. The Ole Miss staff was very accommodating in allowing us to work even while Michael trained. And the administration and teachers at Briarcrest Christian School were welcoming, warm, and helpful as we toured the grounds and conducted interviews. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that everyone at these schools provided for Michael.
And, finally, special thanks go out to the countless fans who cheer Michael on every week, especially to the ones who take the time to write to him, sharing their own stories, and to those who allowed us to print their letters. You are so brave and so strong. You matter. Thank you for trusting Michael enough to share such personal testimonies. Your letters mean the world to him, and they are the reason he strives each day to continue to succeed—to show you that dreams can come true. To the young men and women in the foster care system and to those wonderful individuals and organizations that work with them every day, this is for you.
1 Mark E. Courtney et al., “Youth Who Run Away from Out-of-Home Care.” Issue Brief, Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago, March 2005.