Louisiana writes to Shilah Winslow after getting another letter from her. She is still sick with the migraine and sinus infection.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 5:06 a.m., D.S.T., Nsshville, Tennessee~
Dear Shilah~
I had no idea you went through such pain; I am sorry you lost your leg due to that bomb. To think a child did that to you...it is absolutely unthinkable! Sad how the enemy mind works, that they are using their own to kill others. It's a shame, that's what it is!
I can't understand how the terrorist mind works, why they use violence and hatred to drive their sick point home. I see no connection; I guess we never will. This war in Iraq has dragged on long enough, and I am sick of all the protestors and people, in general, slamming our President.
If you don't like the war, why not send the protestors there and send our troops home? It would seem logical to do this!
I am feeling a little better this morning (though not much). My head still feels like an elephant is stepping on it, and my nose is all plugged up. I can taste the stuff dripping down my throat, let alone, smell the crap that's up my schnozz; it's gross, and when I blow my nose (or try to, anyway), it's bloody.
I am not going to work today either; I am going to stay home and try to get the rest I need. Maybe this is God's way of telling me to slow down; I've been going at warp speed lately, and it's catching up with me.
I hope you get to meet the kids, too, Shilah. You'd love them. Everyone who meets them does. They say they are the best behaved kids they ever ran across, and they say that Bill and I have a firm leash on them. Well, we strive for good behavior from the kids, and if they don't, they will be reprimanded, no questions asked.
They know right from wrong, and they know that if they misbehave, they will be punished. I don't let them use their disabilities as a crutch, as a means to get their own way; oh, no, we frown on that!
Shilah, have you met Kendra Williams (now Kent), Louisa Mason, or Audrey Jackson (now Callaway)? I have, and they are great, great people. I have also met Gretchen Wagner, Katrina Delchamps, Don Hickmon, Bart Simpson, Betty Jo Ciagalore, Phoebe Pearson, and other members of my adoption community or people I have taken care of during my tenure as a nurse (as in the case of Katrina Delchamps; she was one of my patients). Kendra, Audrey, and Louisa have all been through hell, but God has brought them out, and they are now serving the Lord the best way they know how.
I write to Kendra, Audrey, and Louisa on a regular basis, they know if I don't write back rigiht away, they know I am busy with something. They don't get mad about it, which I appreciate. I've lost a lot of friends because of my not responding; but when you are chasing nearly sixty kids, who has time for anything?? *giggle*
Your Kayleigh sounds like a great kid. I would love to meet her as well. She is lucky to have such a caring mommy. I am happy that she is going to have a little brother or sister; that's wonderful news!
I'm afraid Ronee' isn't so little anymore. She is nearly as tall as me (I am the little one; I'm only 4' 7" tall! LOL I have big hair; that's why I look like I'm about 4' 9"! LOL). She is short for her age, but she is definitely a teenager: she has the figure, and she has the mood swings! LOL She has a temper to be reckoned with; when she's mad about something, you do not want to be in her way: she'll mow you over! LOL
I think Kayleigh would enjoy Johnny. Johnny is my son with muscular dystrophy; he has already outlived doctor's predictions by nine years! He is in a wheelchair now and is using oxygen, but he is still a great kid with a shy, unassuming personality. He already has a girlfriend in Rebekkah Cohen, but he doesn't know about her accident yet (am planning on telling him about it, am trying to work up the courage to do so).
Johnny has been through so much: he has had meningitis (twice; the first bout left him with hearing and vision loss as well as brain damage, which he has had to fight to overcome), he has seizures, and he has this MD, which was diagnosed at about the time he was learning to walk. He does walk with crutches, but it is only for a short while; he tires too easily, and he just isn't that strong anymore. It's heartbreaking to see the downhill slide in his health because we know what's coming around the bend, and it scares the hell out of me.
He has been doing quite well with his health at the current time; I pray this continues. Yet we are waiting for the other shoe to drop, and whenever problems do come up, we will have to be there to help him through and be strong for his sake. It isn't easy parenting a kid like Johnny, knowing that he is going to die, but we are making sure that he gets to do things while he still can, let him experience life to the full.
I think Kayleigh would enjoy Jodie, my fifteen-year-old daughter. She would be like a "big" sister to her. Jodie is our daughter with severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Jodie is also mentally disabled. She does talk some, but not much. She can't walk or do a lot of things for herself, but she has a bubbly personality that brings smiles to people's faces when they first meet her. She is always laughing about something, and she is our sunshine girl. She sees the good in things, and nothing ever keeps her down for long. Jodie was adopted from Korea when she was three; she has been a joy to us ever since. We are blessed in having her in our family!
Well, Shilah, I've bent your ear long enough. I am going back to sleep now; I got sleepy all of a sudden. Take care, may God bless you always, and write when you can! I'll be waiting for your letter!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May Sandusky. :)
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Reviewed by d. k
3/20/2007
Great write, well worth taking the time to read. Keep it up!
Its sad when mere children are used for such hurrendous tragedy.. Sorry about the loss. Hopefully an artifical limb can be used in the near future. Karen, you sure keep these story letters interesting!...M
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