An adoptive mother writes why she feels so privileged to have adopted special-needs children.
Call me blessed.
I am blessed because I have a wonderful husband who has given me much in the way of love and hope, and we have been married for 13 happy years.
I am also blessed because we both have taken in children nobody else would have wanted because of race, ethnicity, handicapping conditions, or because they were part of a sibling group that couldn't be seperated, but despite the challenges our children have given to us, they have overcome incredible odds, and they are winning at life.
Our children have grown into well-adjusted, happy young men and women, and they aren't as little as they once were; but they have brought us much in the way of hope and joy. They have taught us the meaning of courage and patience, and they have taught us much about living with heartbreaking physical (or even mental) handicaps that have greatly altered their young lives. For example, our one son, Johnny, who will be 11 in December, has a terminal neuromuscular disease, but he is still a very happy and very loving little boy. He lives life to the very fullest, and he refuses to let his disabilities bog him down. He would much rather be playing one of his video games or reading a good book or even surfing the Internet than to be sitting around, feeling sorry for himself because he isn't expected to live to become a teenager!
Or Ronee', his sister, who lives with chronic pain every day: she has systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and recently had knee replacement surgery; but she still laughs and sings, and she is never unhappy for long. In fact, it is SHE who is cheering another person up, and it is SHE who brings them joy into their lives. She is a talented little singer, and she is determined to become a country music star, just like her idol, Loretta Lynn (and has recently found a new idol in Kelly Clarkson, who won "American Idol" last year; she is just crazy about her!). Yes, she is hurting, but you would never know it from her cheerful disposition because she always has a smile on her face!
Johnny and Ronee' are two children who have triumphed magnificently over incredible odds; and this is what makes them so special; but each child in our family has triumphed over incredible odds in his or her own way. For example, Jodie just learned to talk last year, and she is now starting to make her wants and needs known. And Kwame' has recovered nicely from his most recent heart surgery and is now doing very well. He is now running around, playing, just like any other now three-year-old little boy. And Lightning is now the parent of three beautiful children, making me a grandmother. And Dianna is going to be graduating from college next summer and will become a teacher to visually-impaired children.
All of our kids are doing very well, and Bill and I couldn't be happier. Sure, they have all been through hard times in their young lives (some much more than others), but they have also had much triumph and success in their lives. They have overcome their disabilities in a way that boggles the mind, and when people see our children, they are always amazed and moved.
Our children make me proud to be a parent. They are good, fun-loving, and responsible kids, and they are hardly any trouble. Sure, they have their moments where they try my patience (but all kids do; they are just kids, and kids can't be expected to be perfect or well-behaved ALL of the time!), but I wouldn't trade any of my children for all the money in the world! They are my light and my joy, and I thank God for each and every one of these beautiful children each and every day!
If more people could see the miracles I do every day, they would want to try adoption because adoption surely has opened a new way of life for both Bill and myself, and we are ones who would recommend adoption to anybody! Now, adoption ISN'T for everybody, but it's what we know, and we haven't been sorry for our children! They are God's Gifts to us, and we are eternally grateful for these special children who have changed our lives in such a profound way!
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Reviewed by Bianca Boonstra
7/7/2003
Well written!!!
Reviewed by Vesna Perkovic
7/7/2003
..there is so much good and so many wondrous people upon this planet..I bow in salutation to people with such enormous capabilities for love....I honour them deeply.
Excellent write Karen
Vesna
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Call me blessed.
