Monday, January 12, 2009, Nashville, TN, 5:52 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Gayle Richardson~

You don't know me; however, I felt compelled to write to you upon reading your story at Blog.Com. 

I was sorry to learn of your little boy's death a year ago.  Please accept my deepest condolences.  I can't imagine having to go through such an ordeal; yet I've taken care of children who were born with the same condition your son had.  It is a horrible, life-changing experience; once you've seen a child with anencephaly, you will never forget it as long as you live.

Thankfully, none of my children were born with it.  Some were born severely handicapped, but they've all survived doctor's predictions; what do doctors know anyway??

Your son had the prettiest blue eyes.  They were striking; they're about as blue as my now-teenaged son's eyes.  He also had pretty curly red hair.  That was the first thing I saw when I saw his pictures at your blog site. 

I don't know why God allows such suffering in little children; I guess He does it as a way to see if we can remain strong in our faith.  I don't believe that a child is born with a disability due to their parent's sins; that's rubbish, in my opinion!  I believe any child, disabled or not, deserves to live. 

This is what I've tried to prove when we adopted our children.  Most of my children are disabled in one way or another; they suffer from disabilities ranging from Duchenne muscular dystrophy,  epilepsy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, congenital dwarfism, congenital amputation (or amputation later in life), deafness, blindness, autism, learning disabilities, speech difficulties, paralysis of varying degrees, JRA, and Down syndrome.

People see their disabilities, but they soon forget that when they see what they have accomplished in their lives.  They are highly motivated, successful young men and women who refuse to be ruled by their handicapping conditions.  They are nothing short of amazing!

I wish something could be done to save children who were born with anencephaly or any severe neurotube defect or genetic disorder.  It would save a lot of parents a lot of heartache or grief!

Until then, all we can do is love our children, give them a life, cherish them while they are alive, and keep their memories going when they pass away.  This is what I do with my own children that died; I still love them even now, even though they are now in Heaven, with Jesus.

I am sending you copies of my books ("A Family Made Out Of Miracles And Rainbows" and its sequel, "...And The Miracles Continue").  I want you to see what I've had to go through on account of my own children and why I am the way today. 

I have learned to fully rely on God during any crisis that may befall my family; nothing is impossible with God.  He can provide miracles when one least expects them; I've seen plenty of them in my life and in the lives of my family!

I hope you get blessed upon reading my story.  I enjoy writing, and I hope you get a chance to know me a little better through my words.

As a nurse, I've learned about compassion, not giving up hope, even in the worst of situations.  Oh, I've cried buckets of tears, but I've had plenty of moments of sheer joy, both at home and at my job.  Life is indeed beautiful, and it is made better with people who are born disabled; they can teach us so much about living!

My children, as well as disabled friends, are my greatest teachers.  They have taught me invaluable lessons that will stay with me for the remainder of my days.

Even the most severely handicapped individuals can teach us life lessons.  My daughter Jodie, who has severe cerebral palsy and mental disabilities, can talk, and she enjoys the simplest things:  a mother's hug.  A father's reassuring word.  Playing with her teddybear or with her sisters and brothers.  Letting the cat sniff her face and purr in her ear.  Such simple delights are bound to bring laughter to her; her laughter is one of the sweetest sounds this side of Heaven!

I am sure Shawn Patrick was the light of your world in the three short hours you had him.  He certainly deserved to live; that he lived as long as he did is something to be celebrated!  At least he had a life, brief as it was!  He was a gift from God.  He deserved to be born!

I am glad you and your husband decided to carry the pregnancy to full term.  That way, you were able to see your son, spend some precious time with him while he lived, and get a chance to bond with him.  I am sure the love you had for him will never go away; it will probably only be made stronger as the years go by.

I know the love I carry for my own deceased children still lingers on in my heart.  I still have their pictures on the wall, and when we go to Louisiana, I make sure to stop by their graves and visit them, talk to them, as though they were still living, let them know about the family, what's new in our lives.  I find that very calming, and I know they are listening to me in Heaven.

If there is anything I can do to further your cause of anencephaly awareness or to keep your son's memory alive, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.  I will be more than happy to help!  I am a busy woman, but I am never too busy to help those who need it the most!  I make time to help others; it's what I enjoy most in life besides my own family!

Well, Gayle, I will let you go.  I have bent your ear long enough.  I hope you don't mind, but I am telling you this now:  I am a talker; people soon find that out once they get to know me (or read my writings).

I want to let you know that you aren't alone.  God is always with you; He will never leave or abandon you.  And there are plenty of people who have gone or are going through what you did with your little son. 

I do hope to hear from you soon.  Please let me know if I can assist you.  I will be enclosing my e-mail addy and home phone number along with this letter; if you have any questions, please write or call back!

May God bless you mightily!

~Lousiana Sandusky, Nashville, Tennessee.