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No Matter What Life Throws At You, Your Mama Still Loves You The Same! (For Jodie, From Louisiana) by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Rated "G" by the Author.
Louisiana tells her daughter, Jodie, why she loves her so much and why she is so special.
Wednesday, March 3, 2004~
Dearest Jodie~
No matter what people may say about you or think of you, you are still our daughter, and nothing can ever change that. You came into our lives when you were three years old from a children's institution in South Korea; but when we first saw your picture, we knew that you were the one we wanted, and we couldn't wait until you finally were in our arms and in our home! When you first came to our house, we cried with joy; and years later, we still can't believe that you are actually a part of our lives!
You were born with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy that affected all four of your limbs, your trunk, and your facial muscles; but even with all the severe disabilities you faced (and still DO face), you are making giant strides in your quest to become more self sufficient, and your bravery and courage to succeed in life is nothing short of remarkable.
Jodie, you have faced years of silence, and we thought we would never hear you say a word; but then last year, God granted you a Miracle; and now you are starting to express yourself. You can say "Mama", "Daddy," "Brother", "Sister", and more, and every day you are learning new words to your ever-expanding vocabulary. We are amazed at your ability to learn, and even though you ARE mentally handicapped, you are NOT stupid; and we find you to be more intelligent than what was first thought; and maybe you aren't as "retarded" as doctors made you out to be. You also smile, laugh, and cry, and your feelings are getting easier to read and comprehend; and we can take care of your needs and communicate with you, after years of guessing games and frustration.
You are now facing your thirteenth birthday in July; this year you will officially become a teenager. Even though you may not be able to do a lot for yourself, we are still marvelling at what you already HAVE accomplished in your short life so far; and you continue to blossom and bloom like a flower that had a late start. You are now talking, and you are able to tell us your thoughts or your wants in a clear, yet simple and concise manner, and you find life very enjoyable. It isn't often when you cry, and the simplest pleasures--a kiss from mama, a hug from daddy, the sight of the birds flying in a blue Tennessee sky, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees in our backyard, or the laughter of other children bring you endless mirth, and your sweet laughter is like precious music to our ears. You love being around people, and nothing makes you happier than to have people come up to say hi to you or talk to you. You seem to relish the attention, and nothing makes us happier for you because you have been given a Gift, and a Gift that has eluded you until only a year ago. God has performed a mighty big Miracle in your life, and your world is rapidly expanding as a result of this Gift.
You may accomplish more great things in your future, but one thing IS clear now as I write this to you: you ARE growing steadily every day, and you are really turning into a beautiful young lady. You still have the soft, black hair done up in pigtails, but your face has thinned considerably, and you look more like a teenager and less like a child. You also have started to develop, and you are on the threshhold of young womanhood. If I could, I would keep you three years old forever; you were such a cute and adorable little girl, and I still see glimpses of that wonderful time when we first met you whenever you smile or crinkle your eyes shut. You have a very cute dimple-cheeked grin, and your joy is clearly written on your face whenever you do laugh or smile; and if we can do anything to help you grow, we are with you each and every step of the way.
People still sometimes ask us why we took in a child like yourself, but we tell them that you are ours for a Reason, and we can't imagine our lives without you. You have brought us so much joy and hope into our lives; and we have learned so much about you, especially in the past year. You are a Miracle Child, and God has blessed us mightily by bringing you into our lives all the way from South Korea.
Maybe one day when you are older we will take a trip to Korea. That way, you can understand where you come from and where you were born; and can see for yourself the heritage that lies deeply within you. Sure, you may not look like us with your delicate Oriental build and decidedly Mongolian features; but as I said earlier, you are STILL our daughter, and NOTHING, or NOBODY, can EVER take that away, not from you OR us. We adopted you because we saw you needed a family and a home, and we haven't been the LEAST bit sorry in taking you into our lives as our own daughter!
It has been nearly ten years since you first came into our lives; and even though I didn't have you in the natural sense, I am still your mama, and I still love you the same. Your disabilities may be obvious to many, but I don't see them when I look at you. What I see when I look at you is a beautiful little preteenaged girl with silken, jet-black hair done up in pigtails, laughing Oriental eyes, and a beautiful face the color of goldenrod. You have a pretty little slim body that is usually clad in bright- or pastel- colored leisure wear, and you always seem to have a huge grin on your face. You enjoy life, even though life has been anything BUT kind to you, and you embrace life like nobody we have ever seen. To you, life is nothing but one big adventure after another, and we are certainly glad to be sharing your adventures right along with you! You make life fun and interesting, and believe us, if we could ask God to heal you of your cerebral palsy or your mental disabilities, believe me, we WOULD! But God made you this way for a Reason, and even with all the challenges you face in your daily life, you bring out the BEST in people, and you are a Joy to have around!
Well, Dearest Jodie, I just wanted to let you know that as your mama, I still do love you, and I always will. You have enriched our lives tenfold, and you have brought us nothing but joy and hope. You have taught us much about the severely handicapped, and you are more capable of doing things than people have given you the credit for, and you never cease to amaze us with what you have already accomplished so far! Thank you for being our daughter for nearly ten wonderful years, and may you continue to grow and flourish; you certainly have made OUR lives all the more special and worthwhile!
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