A young girl writes a want-ad of sorts, asking for kids to be friends with her younger sister, who is severely physically and mentally handicapped.
Wanted: A friend for Jodie.
QUALIFICATIONS: Must be tolerant of Jodie's specific special needs (Jodie is mostly nonverbal, cannot walk or feed herself, is also not toilet-trained; wears diapers), and show love, patience, tact, and caring towards her. Only *SERIOUS* applicants need to apply.
Person MUST be of a loving and joyful nature; person MUST show compassion and understanding towards my little sister and/or others like her.
SKILLS: Person must have a good sense of humor and wit, person must be able to make my little sister laugh or smile, especially during her "feedings" or during diaper changes or times of sickness. Person also MUST not treat my little sister as though she isn't a person; even though she may not verbalize all that well, Jodie IS aware of what is going on around her or what is happening to her! She is more attune to her situation than most people may happen to think!
HOURS: 1-3 hours, max, during summer vacation time, 1 hour during school months, 4-5 p.m. is best. Hours are pretty variable, but the hours listed are probably the best time to visit my little sister. Please contact us on a frequent basis, as sometimes we are not home; we will let you know when we will be out of town or not at home!
BENEFITS: Many. One: you will be giving a child in need your friendship, and she will always remember that. Two: you will be rewarded with a sunny child with a delightful personality, and you will feel better after spending time with Jodie. Three: you will also make more friends in her brothers and sisters, and you will learn what it means to love and to BE loved and accepted in a world NOT geared in accepting people with severe physical or mental handicaps; and FOUR: you will find out that even with all her handicaps, Jodie is a PERSON first, just like you!
PAY: Love and companionship from a special child. There is no price on friendship; but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Once you meet Jodie, or others like her, your life will NEVER be the same!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
If interested, please contact: Mr. William or Mrs. Louisiana Sandusky at 395 Twin Rivers Lane, Nashville, TN 37214, in person or by email. Can give out email addy if you ask when you stop by our place.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A little background information about Jodie:
Jodie Faith Kay Sandusky is an 11 1/2-year-old female who is Oriental by extraction. She was adopted by our family at the age of three, and she was born in Korea. She was diagnosed with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and mental retardation when she was one year old. She is unable to walk, talk, eat, or go to the restroom on her own. She is tube-fed by way of a gastro tube in her stomach, and she is NOT toilet-trained. She has always been in a wheelchair made specifically for her needs.
Jodie is also profoundly mentally handicapped, with an I.Q. reading of 30, and she will always require the care of others throughout her life. She is very small for her height and age, and she will always be so. She cannot do very many things for herself, and she has only learned her first words in the past year.
Even with all her problems, Jodie is a child who loves life, and she is very well aware of life around her. She is very happy in nature, and it doesn't take much to make her happy. Still, Jodie doesn't have very many friends, and sometimes she cries because of this.
