Chances Are (22 page)

Six months later

C
hances Are received two major grants, one from the Fordham Foundation and another from the Holt Foundation as a result of the documentary that aired across the country on major cable stations. More funding was on the way and organizations around the nation were asking for Dione's help in establishing facilities similar to Chances Are.

After that first visit to Washington at the beginning of the New Year, Dione and her mother began the painful process of trying to restore the lost years. Dione made it a point to call her mother at least twice a week, and Niyah visited her grandmother regularly on the weekends, she even brought Neal over to visit. And whenever Niyah had a break from her classes at Howard, she stopped by to run errands or just to sit and talk. Funny, they were so close for so long and never knew it. Yet, for both Dione and Niyah, Betsy would always have a special place in their hearts.

Gina was able to get her first “real” job as a result of getting her GED, and would soon be ready to move into her own apartment. Theresa's special reading classes were so successful, she'd become interested in becoming a reading therapist. Denise no longer set off the smoke detector in her new apartment thanks to Ms. Betsy who insisted on standing over her while she cooked to check the flame, in the last week before she moved out. Denise finally got the hang of it.

And soon they would be replaced by others and the process of love and rebuilding would begin again.

Dione Williams-Lawrence tours the country now, openly telling her story and speaking to schools, women's organizations and community groups about teen pregnancy—the good and the bad—and the need for the reform of group homes and the foster-care system, and most importantly education on prevention. And on all of her trips, and during those long days and late nights, her greatest fan is her husband, her friend, her confidant—Garrett.