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| Stop and look at this picture. Look at this hand in comparison to her tiny body. |
This tiny little girl is a year and half older than Ashley. Thats right, she's NINE. And in this picture, at the age of nine, she weighed 10 lbs, 9 oz. Not because of some crazy health issues. But because of severe neglect. Like so many others, she was left in an orphanage simply because she has Down Syndrome. And in her country, she's viewed as worthless.
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| This was her adoption profile picture |
But God had bigger plans for her. A future and a hope. A family need only answer the call.
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This woman, Susanna, and her husband answered that call. |
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| August 2011. Katie meets her new Momma. |
Love intervened in this precious life.
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God is love. 1 John 4:8
This little girl wasn't even used to touch. Her senses couldn't handle it because she'd never had it. But before they'd even brought her home, love was breaking through.
Malnourished and dehydrated, she went home with her new Mommy and Daddy.
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| November 2011. Going home. |
Katie's stats when she came home two months ago (at the age of 9 1/2):
Weight – 10 pounds, 9 ounces
Length – 29 inches
Head circumference – 16 3/4 inches
Waist – 12 inches
Leg, hip to heel – 12 inches
Foot – almost 4 inches
Upper thigh circumference – 5 inches
Ankle circumference – 3 inches
Arm, shoulder to fingertip – 10 inches
Upper arm circumference – 3 1/4 inches
Wrist circumference – 2 3/4 inches
When they got her to the US, she was immediately taken to a hospital for nutritional rehabilitation.
I really really encourage you to read their story on Susanna's blog. (Click here.) Start with the first post of November 2011 and read forward from there. And get some tissues.
And how is this sweet tiny angel now?
This is Katie at one month:
A few days ago marked two months. TWO months. And these are Katie's stats now:
Weight –
Length –
Head circumference –
Waist –
Leg, hip to heel –
Foot –
Upper thigh circumference –
Ankle circumference –
Arm, shoulder to fingertip –
Upper arm circumference –
Wrist circumference –
Katie now. THIS is what love can do:
From this:
To this:
From this:
To this:
There's no telling the incredible plans that God has for Katie. There's no telling what would have happened to her. There's no telling the blessing she is to her family. There's no telling what God can do with someone who will answer the call.
There's no telling the wonders that love can do when given hands and feet.
Pictures and video used with permission from www.theblessingofverity.com
Thank you to Susanna and family, I'm honored to be able to share your story here.
its a beautiful story. Ours isnt as dramatic, our child was loved and cared for- but it wasnt a family. I am still in awe that God would allow us to be the parents of a child as beautiful as our little G and Katie and____.(there are so many!) To watch Lil G learn a language and in a short year communicate wants and needs. Its amazing. I know with everything in me that we will all stand amazed in days, months, and years at what is possible. I dare anyone to read the stories of the little ones being adopted and not feel anything, not be compelled to do something. Im not saying that everyone should adopt. But we can each do something. Love CAN make a difference!!! Prayer CAN make a difference!!!
ReplyDeleteLove- it is what lights the fight in us and sustains us through the battle for these beautiful lives. Thank you friend for the resolve booster this morning.
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