In the Batting Cage

Have you  ever had the opportunity to spend some of your youth in the batting cage?
Maybe it was a required part for your participation in the team, spend two hours a week in the batting cage.
Were you prepared when coach said your in next.
You knew what was coming. Coach set the speed. Slow at first. By the end of season, balls were being pitched to you at 90 miles per hour, and you were swinging for the fence.

Today in the Nebraska DHHS I/DD system it feels like we are in the batting cage.
One exception, we dropped the bat.
Balls are still coming  at speeds exceeding 90 mph.
We can no longer dodge.
Some of us are battered, bruised and bloody.
Some of us are beaten.
Other of us are broken.
We continue to move toward change.
Some of us will heal, and go on.
Others will not survive the hits they have taken.