Kim Williams, an 11-year-old sixth grader with spina bifida, tells about her mother's new friend in Tennessee and how the two have started writing letters to one another, amongst other "tidbits" important to her and her life.
Michelle, I hope you don't mind my borrowing your "family", but I think this is cool, swapping characters! I would like to put my spin on your characters, and see what you think! You seem to have done an extremely good job so far with the stories you have written using my characters Louisiana Sandusky and her daughter, Ronee'!
This is too cool!
Last week, I never even knew that a lady in Tennessee was moved by an article she had read about us in the paper, but on Friday, mom got a letter from a lady in Nashville, Tennessee, who had heard about us, and she wanted to write.
Mom was surprised to know that a person she didn't even know had heard of us and cared enough to want to write; but that was exactly what this lady did, and now, ever since, mom has been on cloud nine.
This is Kim Williams. I am 11 years old. I am but one of 11 adopted kids in my mom's family, and we live in California, about 50 miles or so from Sacramento. Mom took in kids, all girls, who have different disabilities; and I am disabled, as is my twin sister, Kelly. Kelly, like me, has spina bifida (we were both born with it), but I walk on Lofstrand crutches (or use a wheelchair if I have to!), but my twin sister can't walk at all, so she primarily uses a wheelchair. She also has hydrocephalus, which causes her to get blinding headaches; and I always get so scared whenever Kelly gets sick or has one of her headaches because I think she is going to die or end up in the hospital again. (I get headaches, too, myself, but not NEARLY as badly as do my mom or my twin sister!) Our mom, Kendra, has hydrocephalus, too, and she has had a lot of problems with her headaches lately. In fact, she has just recently gotten out of the hospital (AGAIN!), and she is recovering from surgery, but she seems to be doing a LITTLE better. Still, I get worried about her. After all, she IS our mom!
Well, anyway, back to what I was telling you before I got off track, but this lady in Tennessee wrote my mom, and then if that didn't beat all, her kid, Ronee', wrote mom too, and we just got a letter from her today. Ronee' is 11, like me, and she seems like a very nice girl with a lot of moxey on the ball. She may be 11, but she seems to be VERY smart, and she seems to be talented too; the kid sings, and she plays several different musical instruments, and get this: she is even writing a BOOK about herself! Anyway, Ronee' 's mom was telling mom that she and her husband adopted ~50~ kids, most with disabilities; and that they can't imagine their lives without any of their kids! I thought WE were a big family with 11 kids, but 50?? Can you IMAGINE?? WOW!! She also sent my mom a book about the family, and I told mom as soon as she is done reading it I want to read it!
I am a fairly good kid; I don't cause any trouble; but because of my disability, sometimes kids tease me and my sisters, and that really makes me mad. I am just like kids who AREN'T disabled; don't they know that it is NOT nice to pick on other kids?? If I could, I would WHACK one of those bad kids with my CRUTCH if they got close enough..and I would DO it, too, especially if they were making fun of me or ANY of my sisters! Teasing is wrong, and it is NOT nice!! I also get mad when there are places that aren't accessible for me or any of my sisters who are in wheelchairs. We have more than enough trouble trying to negotiate this old world WITHOUT barriers; WHY only make our lives more complicated than they already are?? I tell you, some people do NOT have ANY brains when it comes to the disabled!!
When it comes to having fun, I like to read ("The Secret Garden", "The Miracle Worker", and "Little Women" are my favorite books), watch tv ("Sue Thomas, Private Eye" is my favorite!), going to church (we are Christian, just in case you were interested in knowing that!), going to the gym with mom, and listening to country and gospel music. (Reba McEntire is my favorite singer! I LOVE her!!) I also llike to watch "Lilo and Stitch" and "Scooby Doo" on t.v.
If you meet me and get to know me, you will find out that I am like most girls. I do most things anyone else does, but I do them in a different way, and even though I MAY use crutches or wear braces on my legs (or use a wheelchair at times), I still CAN do MOST things, and I am a very happy girl. I just wish that our real mom took us to the hospital to get our brains fixed when we were little; I have a very hard time in knowing that our real mom didn't care enough for us to take care of us, and because of that, we were both put up for adoption, where we were then adopted by a lady named Kendra Williams. Now Kendra is our mom, and both Kelly and myself think that she is a very neat lady who shines with the love of Jesus Christ in nearly everything she does! Even when she is sick, she still finds time to pray to Jesus, and she has such a strong, unwavering faith!
Well, I will write more later. I have to do my chores; mom is calling me, and from the tone of her voice, it sounds like if I don't come soon, she is going to get plenty mad! Bye!
~Kim Williams (aged 11).
P.S.:
OH! OH! OH! I nearly forgot to mention this, but in May we are getting another new kid in our family! Another girl from Africa, which is where my little sister, Mia, seven, is from!! Her name is going to be Anna!! Isn't that GREAT or what?? I am sooooo stoked!!!! I can't WAIT until we get Anna into our family!!
Note: Since my husband's cancer surgery 4/25/05, this book content has been integrated into the public speaking content for audiences interested in a sassy approach to personal and/or community awareness events. Another chapbook on intimate love poet
In "A Touch of Your Presence" are words that would inspire, encourage and strengthen one's soul when faced with challenges and difficulties and to know the awesomeness of God's power.
