Helpless: A True Short Story

by Rosie Lewis

A dramatic short story from debut author and foster carer Rosie Lewis.

A digital-exclusive short story from Rosie Lewis, plus a sneak peek chapter from Rosie’s highly anticipated debut memoir, Trapped.

Baby Sarah is born to a crack-addicted mother on a freezing cold night in December. Rosie is woken a few short hours later, at 1am, and taken to the maternity unit by police escort to collect the infant and take her to a place of safety.

But it soon becomes clear that Sarah is suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms. Knowing that separation is inevitable, Rosie tries to maintain a professional distance but that’s easier said than done.

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories, Memoir, True Story, Biography, Ebooks, Autobiography

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2013

About the author

Rosie Lewis has been a short-term foster carer for over seven years and in that time has shared her home with over twenty children. Since childhood, Rosie has had an obsession with books and is now delighted to combine fostering with her other passion, writing, by recording some of her experiences in a series of memoirs. Based in northern England, Rosie writes under a pseudonym to protect the identities of the children she looks after.

She lives in the North of England with her own two children.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a short story it is jam packed full of emotion and numerous times i found myself tearing up. I think I was as taken with baby Sarah as Rosie was. Really goes to show how attached and hard it must be for foster carers to have such special children passing through their homes. I love Rosie's books and if you haven't yet ready any then this would be a great introduction on what you are missing out on.

[Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far too short, now wheres her goodreads page at, i need more?!

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but very emotional story that will have you reaching for your tissues.
What amazing people foster carers are that take a child and shower them with love to face the heartache of saying goodbye.
Thank goodness for people like Rosie. Very well written story and highly recommended.

[Lisa Derry · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very intense short story that took me about 30 minutes to read and really opened my eyes as I have never thought about this side of fostering.Great read

[mois reads]

Sarah

A lovely short story from foster carer Rosie baby Rosie was a baby suffering from withdrawal symptoms after being born to a drug addict but with rosies care she went on to be adopted 5 stars .

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short but emotional read.

[Leeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad short story about fostering a baby girl

[Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I've only read one other book by a foster carer, one by Cathy Glass and, honestly, that was really poorly written, clearly showing that even the most emotive subject matter can be rendered bland by an unskilled writer. Honestly, I was worried this might be the same - ramped up drama, mediocre writing. Not so. I actually felt like Rosie Lewis was very honest about her experiences. The story was moving but in a way that felt utterly real and spoke about some of the concerns one might have about being a foster carer. For those of you who are interested in such books, she might be a better author to try.

[sawaaiiq · Rating 5 out of 5]

:( no comment.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye opener.

[flo :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literally just read it bc it was short, free on Google books and It helps me reach my reading goal lol
It was ok

[Becky Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a short story but so emotional.

[Grace Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Rosie Lewis!

Excellent read! I felt the love you have for Sarah. I also felt your heartache when you handed her over to her new parents. Thank you for being there for the children. They need special people like YOU.

[Yvonne Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness there are people like Rosie Lewis around to care for children who are abused and neglected. Another toching story of a child addicted to drugs at birth and the care and love of Rosie Lewis.

[Ruby Tuesday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. - what can I say? The only short story that has ever made me cry.

[Dawn Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I wish there would have been more...definately a SHORT story

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, but too short to really form any connection. Looking forward to reading the author's full length novel.

[Tracey Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and not sweet but gives you a touch back to 'real' life. Truly inspiring.

[Frank Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this short book free on a promotion, and I wasn’t really sure what to make of it at the start. The cover picture is just a baby and it is labelled as “a true short story” so it could have been anything and I was slightly wary going into it.

It turned out to be a well-written and moving fragment of a memoir about being a foster carer for a young baby girl who had been removed by the social services from her crack-addicted mother. The book follows the journey of the baby from terror at being taken away, through the pain of withdrawal to a much happier life, and eventually, to finding a more permanent adoptive family.

All through the book you can feel the overflowing love that the author has for the children she gets to care for, even though it can often be a very difficult job.

I probably won’t be reading any others in the series, but that is more because memoirs are not really something that I choose to read. If I were interested in that area of writing, I would certainly consider picking up another one.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Read for Ebookathon*

I decided to pick smaller books or short stories for the readathon. I normally don't see the point in short stories or don't feel anything towards the characters or the plot.

Thiiiiis however. WOW. Rosie's story is so powerful and it's the shortest book I've ever read. This follows the story of Rosie who is a foster carer who I believe has a strong interest in children with a troubled background. Rosie is called to a child that has been born into a dangerous circumstance.

I don't really want to say too much as it's a very short one. But we meet Rosie. Her children. The foster baby and the birth mother.

I recommend this 100%

[Linda Tilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Baby Sarah is born to a crack-addicted mother on a freezing cold night in December. Rosie is woken a few short hours later, at 1am, and taken to the maternity unit by police escort to collect the infant and take her to a place of safety."

I love these true stories by Rosie Lewis, they always make me stop and think myself lucky to have a happy healthy family surrounding me in times of trouble or despair. Rosie Lewis picks up those who have fallen through the cracks and restores them (and their families too often) to a place of safety, comfort, stability and love.

Admiration and love for this Author always.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story but nonetheless a very interesting insight into the world of the foster carer.

******************************
Baby Sarah is born to a crack-addicted mother on a freezing cold night in December. Rosie is woken a few short hours later, at 1am, and taken to the maternity unit by police escort to collect the infant and take her to a place of safety.

But it soon becomes clear that Sarah is suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms. Knowing that separation is inevitable, Rosie tries to maintain a professional distance but that’s easier said than done.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and emotional read

This book gives the reader the realization that being a foster parent can be hard. The children come into your home broken and while there they are fixed with the love that the parent gives them. At the end of the day foster parents have to live with the fact that they "fixed" a child and spent so much time caring for them and now the children gets to move on with new parents and hopefully a better life because of you.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart rending story of a foster parent, beautifully and honestly presented. At some point in my life, I considered being a foster parent. But my utter failure at giving up my foster cat and eventually adopting her, made it a difficult proposition to part with any foster kids for me! 😺 Rosie has captured the nuanced bittersweet joy of fostering in a lovely narrative, that leaves you wanting more from the author.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very quick read filled with emotion. I have read books BY Rosie Lewis before and really enjoyed them as I did with this one. It really hits home when reading this the emotions that foster carers go through on a regular basis and really makes you glad there are people like them in the world. Well done Rosie Lewis on a fantastic "job". Well written and completely engaging I recommend this book to any reader

[louise mccallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought the book was very sad to read a young mum struggling with addictions , its not usually the type of book i would read but it was very eye opening and showed what its like having a young new born baby coping with being born with issues of becoming addicted to drugs through being grown inside its mum over the period of pregnancy . I wont spoil the rest of the book you will have to read it to find out what happens next

[Yemii Haastrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming

This story was so well told, I could picture every bit described. It is quite emotional and heart warming. Though it is a short story, it is very complete and it leaves one with feeling of hope and wishing both Sarah and baby Rosie the very best for the future. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[angela tulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story , baby Sarah came into.the world under sad circumstances mum on hard drugs, hence super foster mum arrives to the rescue in the middle of the night , helps out till her bed adoptive parents come to collect her weeks later ..l always want to follow up to see her her wards get on in their home home lives .

[Lisa Baillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I take my hat off to the author. Not sure I could be a foster mum. I’d never want to have the babies or children on to there forever home. She seems to have such a Beautiful caring side. Nice to see as you imagine foster carers to not get to attached. The book was well written. Documented the time spent with the family. Very well put together

[sandra turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new baby

Another good story about a foster carer who comes to the rescue of a new born baby. The love and warmth from this details the amount of good care that foster carers do. I was a foster carer for 11 years and enjoyed every minute of it