A fourth family with special-needs adopted children tell what their life is like since their children came into their lives. The Diamonds live in Memphis, Tennessee.
My name is Kaneesha Demaris Diamond, and I am married to Lowell Bryce. He is a doctor (neurologist), and I am a part-time financier. We have six children, all adopted, who range in age from 12 on down to just 3 years old.
All are also special-needs children.
Like us, all are African-American, and all are miracles in our eyes. They have all triumphed over incredible odds, and they continue to bless us each and every day; and they are constant reminders that God can (and DOES) work miracles.
Our children are named Ke Shon Patrick (12), Khalid Emmanuel (10), Keisha Rishette and Kendra Raye (twins; they are eight), Kenya Africka (6), and the baby of our family, little Tashina Yvette, who is just three years old.
All are, as I stated above, special-needs. That is, all have disabilities that make life full of challenges and/or uncertainty at times; but each and every day with them far outweighs the negative; and they have brought us nothing but endless joy. Ke Shon has heart trouble (he has had two surgeries, and faces a possible third surgery in the near future), and Khalid (who so happens to be his younger brother) has Down's Syndrome (but is not as badly affected with the retardation as are a lot of people who have DS; still he IS behind, in relation to most kids his age; and he is a very sweet and loveable little guy). As for the twins, they both have vision problems; and one (Kendra) is nearly blind. Still, despite their visual problems, they get around just fine and do not let anything stand in their way! Meanwhile, Kenya has cerebral palsy and walks on Lofstrand crutches and leg braces (and has a temper to be reckoned with; if she gets mad, she will hit anyone who gets into her way with her crutches!). As for Tashina, she is deaf and is just now learning sign language. But she is a very delightful child who loves to laugh and make us laugh by showing off for us. She is an enchanting little ham, and life is never dull with little Tashina around!
We had tried to have children of our own; but we were unable to conceive; so we made the decision to adopt special-needs children. It has been a long wait and a struggle; but once they came into our lives, our children have blessed us tremendously, and they have given us a sense of hope and purpose to our lives. And they do so enjoy being involved in their church and look forward to going each and every week. They sing in the choir, and it is such a blessing when they get up in front of the congregation and sing "Jesus Loves Me" or "Go Tell It On The Mountain"! Nothing seems to daunt them, and they love singing for the people each and every week! God has given them all beautiful voices, and to hear them sing and lift their voices in song to their Lord and Saviour is nothing short of miraculous!
By the way, little Tashina doesn't sing. She signs along with the sign language interpreter, trying to copy her hand movements. Thought I would clarify that for you! But the others sure do sing their little hearts out!
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
My name is Kaneesha Demaris Diamond, and I am married to Lowell Bryce. He is a doctor (neurologist), and I am a part-time financier. We have six children, all adopted, who range in age from 12 on down to just 3 years old.
