A woman who has several adopted children writes a letter to Louisiana Sandusky in Tennessee and shares her story with her. She heard about Louisiana and her family in an article she had read, and she wanted to contact her.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004, 10:47 a.m., M.T.~
Dear Ms. Sandusky:
You don't know me, but I read an article about you and your big family, and after reading it, I felt compelled to write to you. My name is Erin Suzanne McCabe, and my husband (Paddy), our five kids, and myself all live in the city of Pocatello, Idaho. My kids range in age from one-and-a-half years on up to 11, and they came from the Honduras, every one of them.
They also happen to be disabled in one way or another, which makes raising them especially challenging. Let me tell you about them:
First is my oldest, my son, Gabrielo, whom we call "Gabe". Gabrielo Jose' is 11, and he has ADHD. He is in special-needs class; and he is also learning-disabled. Still, despite his problems, he is a good kid with a gentle heart, and he is fun to be around when he isn't in one of his grouchy moods!
Second in line, after Gabe, is Theresita Manuela, who is 9. She is visually impaired and walks with a guide dog. She is a good kid, too, but she can get stubborn at times, especially when it comes to getting her to do her homework. English is still tricky for her, and she'd as soon speak Spanish, as she is used to it. She will speak Spanish to her brothers and sisters, which drives me crazy! LOL
Thirdly comes Raquela Miracle, who is seven. She has cerebral palsy, but she can walk on crutches and braces on her legs. She is otherwise in great health, and she is our resident wriggle-worm because she is hardly, if ever, still. The only time she IS still is when she is sleeping in her bed! LOL
Our fourth oldest child is Ramiro Tomas, who is six. He was born with a cleft-palate, and he now has some facial deformities because of a botched operation (plus he had necrotizing fasciitis afterwards; he was sick for a very long time). His face is severely deformed about the nose and mouth, and he is a very shy little guy. He has very few friends, and kids tease him, which breaks my heart because he is such a sweet-natured child who just happened to be dealt a cruel blow in life that wasn't his fault!
The next-to-youngest is our youngest daughter, Elena Bianca, who is three. She has epilepsy and asthma, but she is a lively little girl who has a killer personality and a winning smile. She is our resident mischief-maker (she and her brother, Gabe, make quite a team, and they are often in trouble together!), and life isn't dull with her around! It seems that she and Gabe are always getting into one scrape or another! I am always having to put them in time-out!
Lastly (but certainly never least!) is our baby guy, our youngest child, who is named Joaquin Phoenix. He is but a year-and-a-half old, and he is now walking and talking up a storm. We have had Joaquin since he was a few months old, and he is such a happy, delightful baby with adorable fat cheeks, sparkling black eyes, and a dimpled grin guaranteed to melt the hearts of anyone who sees him! Joaquin has a mild case of Down's syndrome, but he is otherwise healthy, and he is doing quite well in his early intervention classes and at his therapies! He hardly ever cries, and it seems that life to him is one amusement after another! He always has a smile on his face, and he laughs at the least little thing!
Now you know about our kids. Let me tell you about myself and my husband.
As I said, my name is Erin McCabe, and my husband's name is Padraich ("Paddy"). As you can probably surmise from our surnames, we are both Irish. We are Irish as Irish can be, and we both look it, with our pale, freckled skin, our flaming-red hair, and our blue eyes (although Paddy's eyes are more grey). My husband was born IN Ireland, and he has the brogue to back up that claim! I was born in Idaho, here in the Pocatello area; I have lived here all my life. My husband works at a factory where he is a press operator, and me, I work at home, raising the children. We have a very good life, and we also have our Lord and Saviour to help us. We are both saved, and we are both Christians and are very strong in our faith. We go to a spirit-filled, Bible-believing church, and we get so much out of serving our Lord and telling others about His Grace and Mercy!
Well, Louisiana, I thought you would like to know that there are others who have been touched by your story. You have done an amazing thing in taking in as many children as you have! You and your husband, Bill, are certainly going to be rewarded handsomely upon your arrival into Heaven! You put the joy into adoption, and you have given adoption such a good name; and many families have learned to look up to you and follow your example!
God bless you, Louisiana, and thank you for allowing me to share my story with you! I do hope to hear from you! Until then, may God watch out over each and every one of you, and may you always be the strong, capable woman that you appear to be!
~Most sincerely,
Your new friend,
Erin S. McCabe, Pocatello, Idaho.
P.S.: The picture I used is one I would have rather not...my brainy husband decided to take me snow skiing, and you can see how I fared! I was ready to WRING his fool neck..with the skis and poles! Oh, he thought it hilarious, but I found out that skiing and I were NOT meant for each other! You would THINK, that living in Ski Country, I'd be ready for the Olympics, but NOOOOOOOOO...I can't stay on a pair of skis to save my life!
P.S.S.: You can imagine what I told HIM after I saw that picture...I was NOT happy AT all!
Did you really need another fictional family to keep up w.? LOL! Honestly I don't know how you do it. This is yet the start of another facinating write!
Potential meets purpose for great accomplishments in the life of a young student.
A young student is interested in learning coding programs. He applies and is rejected because of his age. He does not give up and tries again and is accepted. Eventu
Wednesday, September 22, 2004, 10:47 a.m., M.T.~
