Sunday, May 13, 2007, 8:30 p.m., D.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Journal~

Hi! It's me, Johnny!

Well, I think mama had the best day ever. Today was Mother's Day, and we took her out to eat after church; we also gave her our gift (we all chipped in to get it; it was a plaque stating about how blessed we are to have her as a mother, you know, mushy stuff that makes moms cry), and daddy got her a pair of sparkly diamond earrings, really pretty ones, too.

Of course, mom cried. She always cries whenever we give her things. She is that type of person. She is the type to cry at movies or even commercials if they are heartwarming enough. You could give her a hug or a kiss when she least expects it, or she could watch a program like "Extreme Home Makeovers", and right away, the tears'll start.

You'd best give her a box of Kleenex if she is going to a movie or watch "EHM" on tv--it's a fact of life that she'll cry buckets of tears.

If it were not for my mom Luoisiana I wouldn't have a mom. You see, I am adopted. Have been adopted since I was a small baby. I came from Germany; yet mama saw it in her heart to take me in as her own, and she's the only mom I've ever known. I did meet my biological brother Erick several years back, and that is cool, but he lives in Nwe York City; he lives with another family, but we are real close. (He's now 17 going on 18.)

Mom adopted not only me, but she adopted fifty nine other kids. That means I have scads of brothers and sisters to call my own, all sizes, all ages, all colors, all shapes, all disabilities. Doesn't matter if they're healthy or on crutches or wheelchairs: as long as they need a family, mom will take 'em in, no question.

It did take a lot of time to get used to my brothers and sisters as they arrived into the family, but now I see them as great kids who happen to be adopted. That doesn't matter. What matters most is I love them as much as I do Erick, and if we fight, that's okay. We eventually make up. It always happens.

Of course, mom yells at us when we fight; she can't STAND it when we fight! It drives her butt crazy!!

Mom is a good one to take care of us when we are sick. She is a nurse, and she knows how to take care of us whenever problems arise. For example, I have muscular dystrophy, and my muscles are weak. She helps me with my hair and teeth (as well as getting dressed)--I can't do it by myself--; she also helps me with my catheterization, helps me with my meals, and turns me every two hours, since I can't do it anymore. That way, I don't get bedsores.

She helps me with my oxygen, and if I have trouble breathing, she monitors me, to make sure if I am going to be okay. If not, she'll call for an ambulance and stay with me, try to calm me down, until the paramedics come. That always helps, more than she will realize.

Mom loves to sing: she has a beautiful, clear singing voice. She loves to make music: she plays the pedal steel guitar, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and Cajun accordion. She is really taleneted. She is good at writing (she's authored six books, is working on a seventh), and she runs an adoption community made up of parents with kids with special needs.

If any of these people have qusstions pertaining to adoption or raising children with special needs, she can give good answers. She is very experienced at raising kids with special needs: she has over ten years experience! :) She is a very good mom, and she's been recognized for her love of children who are handicapped or hard to place.

Mom is our advocate: if we are having problems at school, she'll fight to ensure that we get a decent education. If there are problems with the teachers, she isn't afraid to speak out, make them aware of what's going on. She speaks out for the rights of the disabled at meetings, churches, schools, luncheons, even at her job. She is very passionate about the rights of the disabled, particularly children.

Mom is definitely one of a kind; there aren't many people like her.

I am glad that I am her son; she has mentored me whenever I needed the most. She has taught me about values, and has given us a firm foundation in church. She has taught us right from wrong, and she isn't afraid to demonstrate her love towards us.

We may celebrate her being a mom today, recognize her, praise her efforts in raising us, but if you ask me, with Louisiana Sandusky as a mom, every day is Mother's Day in our family!

I love her so much, and I wish more people could have a mom like mine. She is certainly special, and I am a much better kid because of her! :)

~Written by Johnny Sandusky, aged 14.

To my mom: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! I love you, Mama!! You're the BEST!! :D