Arrival at LAX

When I was pregnant with my first child, experienced moms and other well-wishes used to say, “Your life will never be the same again,” and “Be prepared for everything to change!” As any parent can testify, these people were correct and life changed in ways I never could have anticipated. Now, four children later, my life has changed many times over, and three days ago I had another life-changing moment as my newest love enter my life, not swaddled in a pink or blue blanket with a squished up face, but as an eleven year old boy being pushed in a wheelchair through the airport.

It was my six year old son, Hunter, who was able to push through the various news crews and get to him first. His first words to the young boy were, “You have a mommy now! And a daddy! You have a whole family.” It was only later in the car ride home from the airport when my husband turned on news radio that we heard Hunter speak these words to his new brother. We both immediately started crying. It was a very proud moment for us and any misgivings we may have had about this adventure, melted away. We knew this was the right choice. Helping others is always the right choice and only good can come of it.

A little bit of a backstory…

Laine walking with orphan children to school. Adolf is the child crawling.

Adolf outside his orphanage in Uganda.

What is this adventure and how did it start? My wonderful brother-in-law, Laine has a servant heart and for the ten years that I have known him, he has always been involved in helping underprivileged children in various ways. A few years ago, he started mission trips to an orphanage in Uganda, Bringing Hope to the Family. He was so inspired by the little children and adults who dedicate their lives to these children he came home and raised money for many improvements to the orphanage, including a school, bunk house and well. (I am sure there are others and he will correct me if he ever gets a chance to read this blog.) On his most recent visit, about seven months ago, a new child, Adolf, was at the orphanage. Adolf was about ten years old (there are no actual records of his birth, so his age will always be estimated) and had suffered such severe burn injuries to his legs that he was no longer able to walk or stand upright. Adolf suffered the injuries when his aunt, his caretaker after the death of his parents, put flaming banana leaves on his legs. He was about six years old. After that time, he left his aunt’s home and wondered the village scavenging for food. The director of the orphanage found him very malnourished and brought him to the orphanage. He had been living on the streets on his own for four years. When Laine returned from Uganda, he was put into contact with the Children’s Burn Foundation. They generously agreed to provide the financial support for Adolf to travel to the United States and receive proper care for his burns by the world-renown burn surgeon, Dr. Grossman. The last step, and sometimes most difficult, was to find a host family to take care of Adolf during his stay. Laine approached me about it and I said YES without even asking my husband, children, or any questions. I knew this was something I would be willing and able to do. Fortunately, my husband also has a Christian heart and agreed to foster Adolf and a chaperone from his orphanage for the duration of their stay.

This blog is about love, compassion, generosity, and myriad of people that have come together to help others. I already feel like I could write a novel about the three days that have passed since his arrival; however, for today I will leave you with one last thought. At the airport, a news reporter asked Adolf (though an interpreter) “What is the first thing you would like to do when you can walk again?”

Adolf responded “Give thanks to God.” What would you have said?