National Adult Literacy Database

March 6, 2006

Kathy was recently enrolled at Bow Valley College in Calgary, doing literacy and English as a Second Language course.

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Kathy's Story

by Kathy Karaffa

Hello, my name is Kathy Judith Karaffa. I was born on November 16, 1971 at the Grace Hospital in Calgary, Alberta at 1:48 in the afternoon. My father's name is Steve Karaffa and my mother's name is Paula Elizabeth Karaffa. My father is originally from Budapest, Hungary. My mother is from Calgary although her mother and father are from Budapest, Hungary. As a child, I visited Budapest many times and I loved it.

In 1955, my father escaped Budapest, Hungary by going over the border from Hungary into Austria. My father lived there until 1957. My father immigrated to Canada in that year. I am an adopted child. Six months prior to my birth, my parents applied to adopt me. On November 28, 1971, I came home with my adoptive parents and I haven't looked back since.

Absolutely nothing is known about my real parents, except that my biological mother was between the ages of 28 to 35 years when she gave birth to me. I have no idea if I have any brothers and sisters or even if my real parents are alive. My father owned his own business called Ponderosa Automatic for a number of years. My dad specialized in rebuilding car motors. My dad is retired now, but he still changes his own oil in his truck. My dad loves to golf and dance.

In 1980, my mother suffered a stroke and my father sent me to live with some people he knew and I was beaten up quite badly and I was pulled out of that situation. In 1981 to 1984, I lived with my father. In 1984, I moved into a group home. And, in 1991, I graduated high school, I moved out and I haven't looked back since.

Recently, I have returned to school and I am really learning a lot and I love it. I have quite a number of hobbies and they are: five-pin bowling, baking, fishing, playing tennis, weight lifting, gardening and spending time with my beloved father. Well, there it is the life story of Kathy Judith Karaffa.