Louie Sandusky in Tennessee writes to her Californian pal, Naomi Cohen, who is Rebekkah Rachel's mother.
Saturday, August 5, 2006, 10:12 a.m., D.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~
Dear Naomi~
I am happy to know that Rebekkah Rachel is coming along. That is wonderful news! However, I am sorry to learn of Louisa Mason's and Maddy's being in the hospital. Please tell them that they are in my prayers; I will tell the prayer team at Christ Community Assembly of God about this tomorrow, and they will get on the horn and pray for them. Is that okay?
I have some very sad news to report: our young next door neighbor, Opri Johnson, who is thirteen years old, is in the hospital, fighting for his life. He has had serious medical problems all of his life, and this battle he currently faces is just another one on the long list of hospitalizations he has had to endure. His remaining kidney is failing, and he is waiting for a kidney transplant. (This will be his third time to have a kidney transplant. So this isn't anything new.) It is his only hope for survival. things don't look good, but we are looking to the Cross for strength and guidance during this difficult time.
Please keep young Opri Johnson in your prayers; he could really use a miracle about now!
Johnny has returned home from muscular dystrophy camp; he came back yesterday evening, and he had a good time. He is as brown as a walnut, and his hair has been bleached snow-white from the sun. He did see some of his friends, which lifted his sagging spirit, but at the same time, he lost others, and that made him sad. I felt sorry for him when he related the news to me that Corey, Regis, Grahaeme, and Yves lost their battle with MD.
He is happy that Rebekkah is doing better; he will be awaiting her response. Did she get his latest e-mail? Let me know! Thanks!
Ronee' went to her camp last week; she came home sporting welts caused by mosquito bites. She is allergic to them, when they bite her they leave big, itchy welts on her skin; but Benadryl and allergy pills take care of the worst of the itching. She did have a good time, and she has always enjoyed arthritis camp.
Ronee' said her friends were surprised to see her walking on just two canes instead of on crutches; they were happy to know that her last surgery was a rousing success, and now she can run circles around her friends, even on two canes! LOL
I am glad to hear that the weather has finally broken there in California. Here it is plain ole HOT! 'Course, with my being a Cajun, I am USED to heat; heat doesn't really bother me any, but poor Janica, who came to us from Romania a year ago, is melting; she is plain miserable!
Did I tell you the good news? We are adding to our family yet again. I know, I know--call me crazy; but we are to be adding our fifty-fifth child to our International Family, a little boy, aged six, from Israel! His name is Gabriel Abrahiam, and he has seizures. Naomi, you ought to see him: he is absolutely beautiful! He has curly dark hair and penetrating dark eyes, and he will be here by Christmas (though I wouldn't be surprised if he comes earlier, thanks to all the fighting that is going on in that region). We are beyond excited; we are already counting the days to when little Gabriel will be joining us!! :)
I am still involved with the adoption community, I just don't write as often as I did because of the demands of my job as a nurse (I have been packin' in a lot of overtime lately; I have been getting some mighty big checks! :) ) and the needs of my own family; but when I can, I answer my e-mail buddies, just to let them know I am still alive LOL.
I am still counseling other families about adopting children with special needs, and I am waiting for my fourth book to come out. It has been accepted for publication; it is in the printing process, and when that is done, the publishers will mail me copies and then I can send them out to friends, schools, or whoever is interested.
I am currently working with a mother in Texas who is interested in adopting a U.S.-born or Latin America-born child with special needs (she hasn't specified whether she wants a boy or girl yet). I will be writing to her either tomorrow or Monday. Her name is Eileen Wilson, and she lives in Denton, which is in the DFW area. I will tell her about Gladney in Fort Worth, and hopefully she will get in touch with them. I will tell her about my family and my own experiences as an adoptive parent.
This will be hard because I already write to a million other people LOL; but I don't mind; I love helping other families, and I love the fact that I am playing a pivotal role in making a difference in their lives! That is probably what brings me the most satisfaction in this whole adoption biz! :) God has blessed me; now I am putting my own blessings to work to help others, and it is a very happy feeling! :)
Well, Naomi, I will let you go now. Phone is ringing, and Ronee' is screaming for me to get it. LOL I will write to you again; you tell Rebekkah hello, and tell Maddy and Louisa that they are to be on the prayer chain at CCAofG! Let them know they are in my prayers as well! Take care, and God bless you, Micah, Rebekkah, AND Maddy! I am so happy at the news that Rebekkah is to get a sister; that is WONDERFUL news!! :)
As always, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May Sandusky (soon to be the mamma to 55 Miracles! :) ). :D
These song lyrics and art are tales, tides and twinkling lights - tunes telling stories of warmth and sun, city and sand, paths that lead, and the coins we can keep in the Karma Bank. Spirit's been bypassed for sorrow, dreaming of a better tomorrow .
