Chosen But Not Forsaken: My Journey Through the Foster Care System

In 1960, a tragic newspaper headline read, “Mother of 5 Shot Four Times and Killed in Her Home.” The article identified the victim as Shirley Mae Talley, who was shot twice in the back and twice in the chest. The police arrested her estranged husband, who maintained that he “didn’t know he shot her.” This heartbreaking event didn’t just make headlines; it tore a family apart.Van’s story honors her mother and presents a raw, courageous account of survival amid loss, instability, and a deep yearning for the love she was denied. She bravely recounts a young girl’s journey within these pages, navigating life through the foster care system. This is Van’s powerful testament to the strength required to keep moving forward, heal, and embrace self-love, even when life has withheld love from you. Read more