Today I'd like to introduce you to a family friend...
Marilyn
When I was about 9 or 10 years old my family got to know Marilyn quite well. She would come to our house for the weekend from time to time. My brother and I loved to visit with her when she came! We loved her stories and enjoyed making "music" by struming our fingers on the spokes of her wheelchair. She had a really cool van that had all kinds of gadgets to make it possible for her to drive it (since she had very little use of her hands). She could use her mouthstick to push the buttons in her van and the steering mechanism was very sensitive so she could control the vehicle with very small movements of her hands. Despite the fact that she could not bring her hand to her mouth, she was able to feed herself. Mom would cut her food and put her plate on an over turned container to make it high enough for her to reach it - and Marilyn would feed herself without using her hands - and she was VERY tidy about it too.
Marilyn had arthrogryposis but she didn't let that stop her from having a useful and enjoyable life! She got two degrees - one in psychology and the other in occupational therapy. When she was 29 she got a spinal cord compression which left her nearly quadriplegic for a time. Thankfully she was able to recover about 80% of her previous ablilities. I'm sure all these challenges helped Marilyn to really be able to empathise with her patients! She worked as an OT for about 25 years. She used personal experience (as well as what she learned in school) to help her clients become more independent. She was able to live in her own home with just an attendant to help her with things she couldn't do herself. She had a dream to start a home where disabled people could live together and help each other. In 2000 I was able to visit with Marilyn one last time. She showed me all around the group home that she had started. She didn't really have permanent residents yet, but that was the goal. I especially enjoyed her little tour and explanation of how she did various daily tasks by using various gadgets and a good bit of ingenuity. I found it so fascinating! This was my one chance to visit Marilyn when I was no longer a child. Sadly, Marilyn died a few years ago - but I will never forget her. She is probably at least part of the reason I am taking physical therapy today!
I was so glad to find a letter she wrote to the "Avenues" newsletter (an arthrogryposis support group) on the internet it helped me write this post. You can read it here if you are interested (you'll have to scroll down a ways to get to her letter.)
My friend was blessed to be born into a loving family. She told us that in childhood she was able to do most things other kids did - it just took her longer. She was blessed to have the opportunity to get an education and live a happy, productive life.
Not every child with arthrogryposis has been blessed with these opportunities - though they are no less deserving!
Here are three...
They need families to love them...
Families to believe in them...
To give them the opprotunity to be whatever they would like to be...
To get an education and be a blessing to the world by their charming personalities...
Their stories...
Their experience...
Their expertise...
Just like my friend Marilyn!
Instead they wait in orphanages or institutions...
Their destiny is a mental institution...
Where they will rot their minds because they will have nothing to do...
For days and years...
For as long as they live.
I shudder to imagine my friend wasting away in an in institution...
Thankfully she never had to experience one...
But...
Igor, who is 7 years old...
Already has these frightful words in his profile...
HELP, I'VE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED!
Victoria was transferred some time ago...
She is 9 years old.
Laurel has been blessed to be at a "good" orphanage - but she will soon be transferred!
Laurel will be 16 in August...
At that time she will receive her life sentence of institutionalization...
With no hope of getting out!
It is time to act for these children!
Adoption is their ONLY chance.
Laurel must be rescued by August...
Or it will be too late!
(She has over TEN THOUSAND dollars in grants to help a family adopt her - but they must act FAST in order to get her in time!)
Igor and Victoria still have a little childhood left to enjoy...
If they only could have a family to give them the opportunity!
Please share these children's stories and help their families find them...
Before it's to late!
They absolutely DO NOT deserve to be institutionalized!!!!
There future could be very bright...
Not only could they get an education...
But there are treatments available that might make it possible for them to walk...
Or at least improve their abilities and help them gain some independence!
Can you help them have a chance?
Please don't forget them!
There is a terrific giveaway going on right now to help these three (and many other children)!
Click here to learn how you can help !
At that time she will receive her life sentence of institutionalization...
With no hope of getting out!
It is time to act for these children!
Adoption is their ONLY chance.
Laurel must be rescued by August...
Or it will be too late!
(She has over TEN THOUSAND dollars in grants to help a family adopt her - but they must act FAST in order to get her in time!)
Igor and Victoria still have a little childhood left to enjoy...
If they only could have a family to give them the opportunity!
Please share these children's stories and help their families find them...
Before it's to late!
They absolutely DO NOT deserve to be institutionalized!!!!
There future could be very bright...
Not only could they get an education...
But there are treatments available that might make it possible for them to walk...
Or at least improve their abilities and help them gain some independence!
Can you help them have a chance?
Please don't forget them!
There is a terrific giveaway going on right now to help these three (and many other children)!
Click here to learn how you can help !
Even very small donations help! They all add up!
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