[tri-wings] Annie in the Canadian Medical Association Journal

Barbara,

Thank you for your kind words for my kind words. Most of the people on this
list share a kindred spirit regarding the value of these little T-18
children. We know how special they are because we touched them and smelled
them and held them and loved them. We are blessed. Everyone else is
ignorant. 

I've shared this before, but one of the most profound experiences in my life
happened in my 2nd year of high school. My mom required each of her children
(I was the oldest of 8) to donate a summer during high school as a volunteer
anywhere we wanted to. I chose the Institute of Logopedics (now Heartspring)
which helped children with Cerebral Palsy. I had no idea what Cerebral Palsy
was and had never even seen anyone who had it! I was assigned a young man
about 20 because I was the only boy volunteer and he was difficult to get in
and out of the bus. All that he could do was smile and drool. We became
truly good friends over the summer and I learned that happiness has
absolutely nothing to do with intelligence, our ability to communicate, or
our social status. In fact, some of the my wealthiest and most educated
friends are the most miserable. I'm in Los Vegas right now and couldn't help
but feel sorry for the people sitting in front of the slot machines trying
to fill a need that they couldn't understand. 

The fact that some of our churches do not understand the sanctity of life
has nothing to do with what is right or wrong. Churches are notorious for
errors. You know in your heart what is right. James 1:27 says: " Pure and
undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit
orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the
world." In other words, we should take care of the people who are most
vulnerable and do what is right even if the rest of the world is screwed up.


Isaiah 49:15-16 says:  "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have
no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not
forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." 

God isn't the bad guy. Fortunately my parish is very active in the right to
life, but unfortunately it composed of people and some of them are (gasp)
sinners. Like you, I am sometimes a voice in the wilderness crying out. . .
.  I'm old. (relatively) So I frankly don't give a da*n what anyone else
thinks. I don't have to prove anything to anyone and am secure in the
knowledge that in spite of anything, I am loved by a good God, one who has a
plan for my life, a plan for good. I think that you have that same belief as
most of the people in this list. 

This list is a kind of church for us. It is a place where we can bear each
other's burdens and encourage each other. You are doing a good work. Annie
is proud. And we all love you. You think you can't compete with the church?
Well I disagree! The darker it is, the more a little light is noticed. So
let your light shine! Don't hide it under a bushel basket. Preach it! You go
girl! 

Paul Farmer
Dad to 2 daughters I can still hug and Paula who is in heaven.
Papa to 5 grandchildren I can still hug and two that their mama hugs. 








                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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