I suppose there is a reason why we have to endure all of this pain.  It doesn't mean it is easy because I am here to tell you that it isn't.  Not by a long shot.

There also has to be a reason why our daughter, Emmalyn Grace, was born the way she was.

We are trying to put our faith and trust in God, but again, it isn't easy to understand at times, why He allowed our daughter to be born handicapped.

Emmalyn Grace was born with significant delays.  At the age of 13 1/2 months, she was diagnosed as having severe spestic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.  In layman's terms, it basically means this: Emmalyn will probably never walk or talk.  It has been hard.

Now Emmalyn is six and while she still can't walk or talk (or even eat on her own; she is fed by way of a tube in her stomach called a "Mickey", but we call it her "tummy-button"), she is one of the biggest God-given blessings in our lives.  We simply cannot imagine life without her.

In addition to Emmalyn, we have a second child: his name is Jacob ("Jake") Eric; we adopted him a year ago from China, and he is a very sweet, even-tempered, beautiful little boy.  He is three and adores his big sister.  He loves watching us care for her and often tries to help out.  Jacob is very smart and has quickly adapted to his new life here in America, in addition to learning English.

We don't know what the future holds for Emmalyn, but one thing is certain: as long as she's with us, we will do everything humanely possible to give her a happy and fulfilling life.  Goodness knows, she deserves that (and much more!).

We will be writing more later; you have not heard the last from us, the Paxton Family story!

~Stephanie Denise Paxton, White House, Tennessee.