Posted on 01/03/2010 9:30:17 AM PST by Dubya
GODLEY — As with all their children, Deahl and Patti Rooks pray daily for their 14-year-old foster daughter, Serenity.
Not only was Serenity abused and neglected, she was born with a genetic disorder that left her with a cleft palate, no tear ducts, few teeth, and only three fingers on each hand and two toes on each foot. She also was legally blind and partially deaf.
In their prayers, the Rookses have asked God to protect Serenity; to help her through various surgeries; and to keep kids from picking on her.
But never have they prayed for Serenity to regain her eyesight. It never crossed their minds.
"We pray for our kids every day, but never have we prayed that Serenity’s eyesight would return because it is something we never expected," Patti said. "She was born blind. You just accept that. Never did we once pray this would happen, but if anyone deserves it, it is Serenity."
In the past 18 months, Serenity’s vision has improved dramatically. She no longer uses a cane. She no longer qualifies for blind services.
Yet, she has received no eye surgeries. "It’s a miracle," Deahl said. "What else can it be?"
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
If anyone believes in miracles, it’s the Rooks family. Since 2002, they have cared for more than two dozen foster children, most with special needs. They provide for the children on Deahl’s school bus driver’s salary, some state assistance — and a lot of help from their church, Shepherd’s Valley Cowboy Church in Egan.
Right now, they have 10 children in their modest Johnson County home: five adopted and five foster children.
Great story!
Love!
You’re right, i did!
Thanks, wonderful story!
Beautiful story!
Sad to say my state Tennessee is among the nations worse. It's ran by liberals with their liberal poor victim abuser/neglecter/enabler Mommy is just confused mandates. Kids needing loving and safe permanent homes can stay in the Foster Care System forever here and except in rare cases of parents signing away rights adoption of such kids is a near impossibility because they refuse to terminate parental rights. Birth Mom might change her mind in 10 years is the current policy in Tennessee.
Many women can have children, many men can father them. But that does not make them parents. Best wishes and prayers for the new parents, this child, and the sibling.
We raised two special needs children, one born to us and one adopted. We didn’t really know we were doing it at the time and I know we made a lot of mistakes. I can’t imagine raising that many with heavy duty problems. We went to a party at a friend’s house New Year’s Eve. They have a 16 year old son who is autistic. He pretty much yelled and hollered the whole time but watching his parents care for him in such a loving and routine we do this all the time manner was a great way to welcome in the new year. God sends us people who are angels in disguise to help us grow. I’m reading Job this week to study those issues.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve been a foster parent in Nevada for 10 years. 27 precious children later, my hubby and I have had the privilge to adopt 4. There have been a few cases here where my heart has been torn out as I’ve witnessed a few of these precious ones returning to homes where the birthparent was clearly not equipped to parent without massive governmental subsidies including ongoing, state-paid drug abuse counseling, bus passes, food stamps, medicaid, etc. In many cases they’d only been sober for 1 year out of the last 20...it was horrible to watch the children go back to that. Some of these birthparents had no idea how to take care of themselves, much less an innoncent child. The children went from our loving, safe home to a home where who knows what was going on when the social worker wasn’t there. In many cases, the birthparent would relapse and the child would once again be “recycled” through the system. My youngest daughter was abused/neglected by her birthparents AND the system set up to supposedly protect her. She was in four different foster homes before she was even 2 years old because she had the laziest social worker on the planet (I got that dirtbag fired, I’m happy to report).
Long story short, these little ones are worth protecting and loving, in spite of the obstacles. They change you for the better in ways you never dreamed. They are the true heroes.
I wonder what the 11 after my name is for?
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