Debra Lee
Entitled “Faith Tree,” the back side of my book is a drawing of a dead tree stump with healthy green
leaves stemming from within. The concept for my piece derives from a personal story of anguish when I
nearly lost my house due to foreclosure. This house had been in my husband’s family for decades, the
house where I was married, the house where my children were born and raised, the house where my
youngest two, who have ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), have the space they need to be themselves. It
was a difficult time for us financially and I had nightmares many nights wondering where we would go if
we lost our house, worrying that we would have to live in a cramped apartment and people would
complain about the noise from my children.
During this time, there was a dead tree in front of my property that my neighbors complained about and
called the city to remove. The tree was taken down slowly, a period of prolonged torture for me, whereby
as they removed its many layers, it felt like they were tearing off pieces of me with it. When I looked
outside at that tree, I felt it was connected to me; it was a sign of hope. That hope turned into faith when
no matter how much they tried to kill off that tree, its leaves kept growing back. Before the tree was cut
down to its stump, I realized God was telling me things would be fine.
On the front of my page, slightly visible behind the tree, is a drawing of a gift. This signifies the gift that my
children are to me. I believe I am their mother for a reason. I am so proud of their talents and intelligence,
and despite their special needs, they have exceeded far beyond the assumptions of their teachers. I
believe everything in life happens for a reason. Like the hope I felt when our house was in danger, all kids
with ASD have a gift.