A woman who has read a book about an inspiring family shares her thoughts on this family made out of "Miracles And Rainbows".
I don't know how people can do what this particular family does; I know I couldn't!
I recently read a book (and its sequel) about a family in Nashville, Tennessee, who has taken on more than their share of responsibility, and yet through all that they have been through, they are still intact, and the love and caring that they demonstrate towards their children is nothing short of remarkable! The couple, a man and woman in their mid-to-upper thirties have adopted an incredible 52 children, children of all ages, sizes, shapes, races, and disabliities, into their hearts and homes, and through their nurturing and positive Christian upbringing, the children have managed to escape overwhelming odds placed upon them by uncaring doctors and society, and they have since blossomed into beautiful, loving young men and women whose futures indeed look very bright with promise and potential!
I first heard of this remarkable family through an article I read in the paper, and in the article, it stated that the mother, Louisiana, had written two books about her family. Well, I happened to find copies of the two books ("A Family Made out of Rainbows and Miracles" and its sequel, "...And The Miracles Continue"), and once I started reading about this amazing family's story, I couldn't help BUT to be moved (sometimes to the point of tears). The couple had three children of their own, but unfortunately, all of their children passed away (two while still small babies), and it seemed that a family was out of the question for this kindhearted couple; but then God somehow intervened, and He brought to them children that nobody else wanted, and somehow, through God's Grace and Mercy, the Sanduskys became a family, and they have since remained one to this very day. The children are not ALL disabled, but the majority of them are, and their disabilities range from the unnoticeable (or "hidden") to the very obvious, or very severe. Some of the children have nothing more than learning disabilities or hidden conditions like epilepsy, but a good portion of them are definitely physically disabled or mentally disabled (or, as in the cases of Todd, Jodie, and Roberto, both physically AND mentally disabled).
Their children are a conglomorate of color and nationality: they come from places like Asia, Africa, Europe, the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico and Latin America, and yet through the spirit of adoption, they are united as one, drawn together through love and are now the couple's "forever children". They are all growing up into lovely young men and women, and a lot of them have far exceeded any expectations pinned on them by doctors. Some of the children weren't expected to live beyond infanthood or childhood, but they are still alive now, and they continue to defy the odds with each passing day. Even though the kids are disabled to most people, they are children first to Bill and Louisiana Sandusky, and they treat their children with an abundance of love and dignity that no other person could ever give these children.
Some of the children's personal stories are included in the books that Louisiana wrote, and some of the things that the children endured during their lifetime is heartwrenching, but the love and the togetherness of family have brought them out of their shells, and they have since adjusted to life with the tenacity of a tiger, and they are the TRUE "survivors".
After I read about this family, I have often wished that I could go to Tennessee and meet this family (I live in Rhode Island), and I have been giving the idea of adopting some thought. I wish I could give a deserving child a family and a home, and I think with a lot of research and practice, I could very easily do what the Sanduskys are doing. They are certainly giving of themselves and are making the world a much better place to some very deserving children who may have never otherwise had a chance--or a future.
I think I will email Louisiana to see if she can give me advice on how to persue the field of adoption; I know of no better person to talk to about this than her! After all, she is experienced...VERY experienced! :)
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I don't know how people can do what this particular family does; I know I couldn't!
