Sereena Abotsway was four years old when she was sent to live with Anna and Bert Draayer. The foster parents learned to love Sereena regardless of her acting out at school. Sereena was able to learn Dutch from the Draayer's and she kept a promise to stay out of trouble for an entire year. Her reward was a trip to Holland with her foster family. The Draayer's raised Sereena from the time she was four years old until she turned eighteen. The Draayer's miss Sereena an awful lot and loved her dearly.



Sereena went to church with the Draayer's each Sunday. For Sereena religion was the foundation in her life. When Sereena lived in the Downtown Eastside she was often seen at the First United Church Mission and The Street Church. Sereena was baptized at least twice. While living with the Draayer's she was baptized as a Roman Catholic later on as an evangelical Christian.

Poetry written by Sereena.

In Memory of My Sisters

These years have passed since you all are gone.
We all miss and love you.
We all miss you very deeply.
When you all went missing each year and every year
We all fought so hard to find you.
But now it only slightly eases the pain
That not one of you have been found.
You all were part of God's plan.
He probably took most of you home
But He left us with a very empty spot.
But I know that some of you are in heaven
Looking down at us.
But I know you are in heaven and at peace.
But when the days are coming to say
good-bye it is very hard not to cry or laugh.
We miss you women
And that is true.
But there are very great memories of you.
In loving memory of all of the women missing in the D.T.E.S.
~ Sereena ~

Love

When we are born into this world
We are loved by our parents and family
But what is Love to you
Love has no gender
Love has no sexuality
Love has no ups and downs
Love has no color or creed
or denomination
Love is saying a kind word to a child
When they do good
Love is showing the kindness of your
time to a senior or the sick
But most of all if you show that you
Love somebody then you will
Get the Love back.

~ Sereena ~