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Dear Coleman: An Adoptive Mother Of Children With Special Needs Writes... by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Rated "G" by the Author.
Louisiana Sandusky writes again, this time to a desperate father living in Birmingham, Alabama, who is the father to two boys, one, of whom, has Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.
Weds., April 5, 2006, 7:35 p.m., D.S.T.~
Dear Coleman Houghton~
Thank you for your letter; it was nice to hear from you. I am glad you liked my book and that it touched you enough to write to me.
I do have a son (Johnny) who has Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. He was officially diagnosed with it when he was about a year old (but there were probably signs of it earlier). He wasn't expected to live beyond the age of five, but he was a lot stronger than doctors believed, and he is now 13 years and almost four months old. He has beaten the odds by an incredible eight years, and he continues to amaze people every day with his courage and indomitable spirit.
Sure, it is hard to find out that your child has a disability that is progressive (not to mention, fatal), but as I have told other friends of mine, I plan on enjoying my son Johnny as long as God allows him to live, and I plan on making what is left of his life memorable and special. Johnny has met many famous people, and he has done so many wonderous things that he couldn't have done if he didn't have muscular dystrophy. As bad as his disease often is, it has also been a blessing in disquise, and we have met many famous people because of him.
You are a good father; don't let anyone tell you differently. You may feel inadequate now because of Caleb's situation, but you also have Cyrus to care for, and he needs you as well. Please be patient with both your boys, and know that you can always ask for help if needed. You can get in touch with your local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and when you do, you will find a whole plethora of helpful, vital, inportant information. We have relied on them upon finding out of Johnny's illness, and they provide him with excellent care (all of it with very little or no cost to us). They have been a Godsend, and Johnny has benefitted greatly from the MDA.
I will be sending you a picture of Johnny in this letter. It ws taken a few years back, but he basically looks the same. He is such a happy young man, and he is such an integral part of our lives. Our lives are indeed richer because OF Johnny! :)
To tell you about myself, I have been married for nearly fifteen years now, and we are the parents to fifty-three children, all of them adopted (most having special needs). Our children range in age from almost two to 23 1/2 years, and they come from places like Africa, Romania, Bosnia-Hergocevina (spelling?), France, Iran, Italy, Germany, Sri Lanka, India, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Russia, The Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and the United States of America.
Their disabilities range from the very mild (or unseen) to the very obvious (and severe), but they are children first. We try to focus more on what they CAN do, not on what they canNOT do, and it really has helped them in the long run.
I am a nurse, and my husband works at Wal*Mart, where he is a "people-greeter". I also am an author (four books, possibly more!), and I run an adoption community, whree I talk with other families and give them advice when it is needed, seeing I am an experienced adoptive parent (VERY experienced!). I am a born-again Christian, and church is very important to me and my family. I can't imagine my life without God, and He has blessed me tenfold with our children! :)
I will be sending you a list of books that the MDA recommended that I check out when I found out that Johnny had MD. I hope you will find them informative and helpful. In the meantime, I will keep you and your boys in prayer (in particular, Caleb), and you will be added to our prayer chain at church come Sunday.
God bless you, Coleman, and if you need ANYTHING at all, please don't hesitate to call me or e-mail me. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible; it may not be right away, but I WILL get back to you. That is a promise! Do write again; I look forward to hearing from you!
(((HUGS))) and love, a new friend in Tennessee, Louie May Sandusky (mama to 53 Miracle Children, most with special needs). :D
The people in your letters--each one that I read over and over-- could be characters is a play taking place in a small town where people are like when times were much friendlier. Of course there's the rude "town bully" to spice things up.
An informative write and sharing of information which can be crucial as well as supportive of the parent/s who have children with disabilities. The sharing of information and where it can be found such as libraries and authors who have written books on the subject of disabilities is quite helpful. Thanks for the letter today, Karen Lynn.
Karen
God has blessed you fifty three times over...:), and it is a wonderful and noble thing in running an adoption center !
Scintillating and expressive pen !
Love and Blessings
Peter
