The child's name was Tereszina Annechka and was known as a "throwaway child": nobody wanted her.  Tereszina was born with "significant" brain damage and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was 1 1/2.  She could not walk or talk; doctors were uncertain as to whether she would ever do so.  

To think that nobody wanted this beautiful little Romani (child of Gypsi heritage) was unfathomable to me.  When I first saw Tereszina, my heart nearly melted.  I knew she was the one for me.

God confirmed it by whispering in my spirit.  "Matilda," He said, "She's the one.  Tereszina is to be your little girl."

"But God", I said, "Even though I want her, I'm not equipped to handle a child like her.  Look at her.  She cannot sit up on her own: she cannot walk or even talk.  She will need total care, and frankly, God, I don't think I could handle Tereszina's needs."

"You can, and you will care for her.  I will equip you with all that you need."  That was God's message to me.

At that, I just stared at this peanut of a little girl.  So God was basically tellling me that little Tereszina was to be my child.  I was going to be the mamma to a little girl.

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Flash forward, one year later:

Tereszina Joy has arrived in America, safe and sound.  She now resides under our roof, as the newest member of the Feehan family.  She is now four years old and thriving under our love and guidance.  While she still cannot walk or talk, doctors are sure that she is not as brain damaged as originally thought: her problems just happen to be more physical.

While Tereszina needs help with feeding (she is fed through a tube in her stomach), undressing/dressing, bathing, and personal care matters (she wears diapers), she still can make her needs known quite readily: one just has to get used to her sounds or her facial expressions.  Tereszina is able to learn: she tested within the normal range on her I.Q. score; she is learning to read and recognize letters, numbers, certain pictures, symbols, and colors. 

It has been nothing short of a bona-fide miracle.

All Tereszina Joy needed was a family and a home where she could flourish and bloom like a little flower.  

Tereszina has brought unity to our family.  Simon (husband) and myself have become closer than ever, and she has taught our three (birth) children (David, Morgan, and Jeremiah) tolerance and acceptance.of those who are "less than perfect".  It has been incredible what one small girl with special needs has done in our family and in our lives as a whole.

~To be continued.~