Louisiana is more than delighted to reespond to a Canadian woman with three adopted children who wrote to her while she was at work.
Monday, February 27, 2006, 2:37 p.m., C.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~
Dear Bitta~
I was surprised to get an e-mail from you. I am sorry for not responding to it until now, but I just got home from work, and I had a tiring day. I work at a local hospital, where I am a RN/charge nurse; I have been a nurse for over 10 years now, and I MOSTLY love my job. I love the satisfaction I get when I help people who are truly in need, and to know that I saved someone's life is very satisfying indeed!
I think British Columbia is one of the prettiest areas in Canada. I have been to Canada several times, and I LOVE the friendliness of the people and the majestic vista of the landscape! If I could, I would retire to Canada to live, I love it that much! :)
I also would love to retire to Louisiana. Louisiana so happens to be the state where I was born, and so Louisiana holds a very special place in my heart. I was born near Lafayette, in the tiny Cajun hamlet of Breaux Bridge, and the Cajun culture tugs at me every time. I am Cajun, and so I have a special affinity for my heritage and all that it means to me.
To tell you a little about myself, Bitta, I am 36 1/2 (will be 37 come June), and I have been married to my husband, Bill, for nearly fifteen years now (will be on June 26 this year). As I mentioned earlier, I am a nurse. Bill and I had three children of our own; unfortunately, all of them died, two of them while still little babies. But God had other plans: he brought us children nobody else wanted, children with (seemingly impossible) physical/mental handicaps.
Our children represent a whole wide world of countries: the continental United States and Canada (our two Canadian children were born in the province of Ontario, in the city of Toronto), Mexico, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Africa (Kenya), Russia, France, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Iran, Romania, and Bosnia. They range in age from one and a half to 23 1/2 now, and they bring Bill and myself countless moments of joy.
Their disabilities range from Down's syndrome, varying degrees of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, paralysis from accidents or stroke, asthma, arthritis, visual or hearing deficits, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, congeital or traumatic amputation, dwarfism, learning disabilities, mental problems (depression), facial deformities, and diabetes. Some look perfectly healthy, while others are quite disabled once you first set eyes upon them. Even with all of their problems, they are beautiful kids with good hearts, and they bring joy to everyone they happen to meet!
Now it has gotten to the point to where Bill or I canNOT imagine life without ANY of the children. They are all Miracles from God (ALL children are Miracles from God; these just happen to have that certain "something" that make them stand out from most), and they are our world. Yes, we DO work for a living, but spending time with our children is probably the highlight of our day!
Your children (Danielle, Tanith, and Gunther) all sound beautiful. You will have to send me a picture; I would love to see what y'all look like! I LOVED the picture of the aurora borealis you put on your letter; it was specTACular! I have seen auroras like that when we went to Alaska nearly two years ago (we went on a cruise); in October, we are going again (this time, the WHOLE family is going; it's to celebrate the adoptions of our three newest Miracles, Arjun, Janica, and Rani, who came to us from Sri Lanka and Romania). It was a gift to me from my superiors at my job, and we are going to have a wonderful time; I KNOW we are! :)
I will be sending you a copy of two of my books, "A Family Made Out Of Miracles And Rainbows: The Sandusky Family Story--A True Story Of Love And International Adoption" and its sequel, "...And The Miracles Continue: The Sandusky Family Story, Continued"), both free of charge (and autographed). I do hope you will enjoy them. You will then find out more about our "Crew" and what makes us tick. You will also know the stories of each of our children and how they came to join Bill and myself as our children, even though they weren't PHYSICALLY born to us!
Yes, I AM aware that Vancouver has been chosen as the next site for the 2010 Winter Olympics. That must be so exciting for y'all! I was intensely moved when your mayor was handed the Olympic flag from the mayor of Torino, Italy; wow, what an inspiration he seems to be! That just goes to show you: people with disabilities, no matter HOW severe, CAN succeed very well in life if they are given the chance! :) My children are a living testament to that in so many ways! :)
Well, Bitta, I will write back again. Take care, and God bless you always!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your new friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah Sandusky (mama to 53 Miracles, most with special needs). :D
P.S.: Wow, what a small world: I happen to have friends who are from Ivalo, Finland, too (well, Sari, the wife, IS; her husband is from Athens, Greece)! She has lived in Finland all her life; she met her husband while working at the Summer Games in Athens two years ago; they just returned from the Winter Games in Italy, so they have worked at TWO Olympic Games! Sari and Nikolas are expecting their first child later this year; as you can imagine, they are past excited! :)
They live in Finland during the fall and winter; in the spring and summer, they reside in Athens, Greece, Nikolas' s birthplace.
GLIMPSE OF AN ANGEL IS NOW AVAILABLE. A PORTION OF ALL SALES WILL GO TO HOSPICE TO THUS ENABLE THEM TO HELP OTHERS WHO ARE SOON TO PASS TO THE OTHER SIDE. NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
