A very special family who has opened their hearts and home to some very special kids from all over the world with heartbreaking disabilities.
The story is told by one of the children.
We are an interesting looking family, to be sure; and this is always evident whenever people see us.
True, the sight of a couple in their 30's (the man is very tall and skinny; the woman, who is his wife, is very short and squat in build) being followed by a seemingly endless train of children makes for a rather humorous (if highly unusual) sight in most peoples' eyes; but to us, it's a normal, everyday occurance.
I am one of those "children" in this said family; and ever since I first came to the Sanduskys, I have always felt loved, and I felt a sense of belonging and acceptance; and my life has been forever transformed by this special couple I have come to call Mama and Daddy, and I have since learned to love all of my brothers and sisters, even though they aren't related by blood to me. But we are now ALL related, thanks to adoption.
I am 14 years old now; I came to the Sanduskys when I was nine; and these past five years have been full of love and happiness (and even some sadness and tears) and indiscribable joy. Never have I felt so loved as I have now, ever since I first came to the family, and I am very lucky to have the family I do because I have matured from a callous, hardheaded tomboy into a caring, compassionate teenager who has nothing but love and hope in her heart; and I have also learned about accepting people who are different than me. I have learned about racial tolerance, and tolerance towards those who are physically, mentally, or emotionally handicapped, and I have learned to see the inner beauty of the handicapped, and have found out that they are more like me than what most people may think or realize.
I am NOT disabled, but a lot of my brothers and sisters ARE disabled, and they need things like wheelchairs, crutches, braces, or walkers to get around; or some are blind or are deaf and need help in talking or getting around easier. Some are both mentally or physically handicapped, and they need help with just about everything they do, and they are more like infants than kids; but they are still so full of love and joy; and one can't help BUT to fall in love with them once you meet them! Still, even with all their serious handicaps, my brothers and sisters are all great kids, and they get so much out of what life has to offer; and every day is nothing but a big adventure for them. They live life to the fullest, even when life hasn't been so kind to them in the past.
My brothers and sisters come from places like Africa (Kwame'), Vietnam (Anh, Sunshine, Andre', Star, Tri, and Tran), Korea (Sun-Hee, Jodie, Tammi, Camey, and Summer Song), China (Megan and Michelle), Russia (Sergei), Iran (Debby), Europe (Johnny, Gisele, Trude, Mario, and Danita), Canada (Michael and Stephanie), Mexico and South and Central America (Jeraldo, Roberto, Monica, and Enriquesa), India (Jamie), and all over the United States (Keisha, Gloria, Ronee', Richard, myself, Rhiannon, Dwerlina, Loueva, LaVella, and others); but thanks to adoption, we are all one, and we are now all brothers and sisters, even though our skin colors, cultures, and beliefs may be different. We are now a "Forever Family", and nobody--or NOTHING--can ever separate us EVER again!
Mama and daddy were blessed by a Loving God, who saw in His Heart that mama and daddy wanted a family after they lost their three biological children; so He brought kids like Johnny, Jodie, Richard, Sun-Hee, Jodie, Sergei, Kwame', and Ronee' into their lives, so they could love them and care for them and give them the home and family a lot of them had never even had in their young lives. Now, thanks under their parenting skills, these kids (and the rest of us) have flourished under their love and Christian kindness, and we are all better off now because of it. We are truly blessed, and I think it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this "Forever Family", and I am now a Daughter with a loving set of parents who would do anything for my brothers and sisters, as well as myself.
We are an interesting looking family, to be sure; and this is always evident whenever people see us.
