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8-year-old survivor of abuse writes inspirational 'thank you' letter to social workers

Marie Suprenant told social workers that she now 'lived in a nice home with three meals a day'

Jamie Campbell
Thursday 16 April 2015 08:12 EDT
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Marie and foster mother Michele
Marie and foster mother Michele

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An eight-year-old girl who was abused as an infant has written a thank-you letter to social workers and detectives who helped to rescue her from a home where she had been left paralysed as a result of beatings.

Marie Suprenant is not able to walk as a result of the injuries that she sustained before she was taken under the care of a foster parent.

“I want to thank you for making me happy by giving me a new warm and safe environment,” she writes. “Now I have a home that is nice and I have three nice meals a day.”

She tells of how “the bad guy,” Marie’s father, had lied “and said that I fell out of bed” when her spinal cord was broken.

Marie says that if she had never received the help of social workers and detectives “my life would still be awful and lonely. Because they might not help me, not feed me or they would hit me when I cried.”

The letter written by Marie
The letter written by Marie

“Now my life is much better."

The only problem Marie now faces is a pet dog named Jo who "snores as loud as a vacuum and sounds like a old man".

She finishes the letter by thanking the people who helped her to the position she’s in and telling them to keep up the good work: “I wish that you keep doing what you do to make the world a better place and to make kids feel protected. I also wish that no matter how big or small the case is you will at least try and help the kids.”

Marie’s letter was originally featured on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta blog and has since become one their most read posts.

Her mother, Michele Suprenant, herself a social worker, adopted Marie from foster care as soon as she was released from hospital.

She told ABC News that Marie “has a very sweet personality and is very matter-of-fact”.

She said Marie’s letter was proof that anyone can move on from issues they may have faced in the past: “Anybody can have a tragedy, but you work though it and life can be beautiful. She is a happy kid. People assume because she has a physical disability she will be unhappy or maybe she has a hard time making friends. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

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