Survival: Overcoming Disabilities
Our newest daughter rides front right
She beat the odds! With one “useless” leg, our daughter has learned to ride bike! We are so proud of her. We first learned to know our 9 year-old at age 3 ½ in Kazakhstan back in 2005.
Kaz is a difficult and expensive country to adopt from, but God’s hand was in it, and one month before we traveled to adopt our daughter, He provided the money. Our oldest was ten, and our only child.
Our newest daughter’s right leg had issues from infancy. It was shorter than her left, and mostly paralyzed. She could not move it without swinging her hip or lifting it manually, and records show she did not take her first steps till over two years old.
During our second week bonding with her, the adoption was interrupted by a local who wanted her! It was heartbreaking, but there was nothing we could do. We adopted a beautiful baby instead (who is now six), whom God clearly planned for our family. She was a wonderful blessing, but we felt like we were leaving another daughter behind.
A few years later we were contacted by a stranger asking if we wanted to return for the little girl who was back in the orphanage! It took 18 months and many miracles before we could travel to get her, this time with a family of seven to welcome her! Our God is a God of the impossible! We arrived home with our then 8 year-old daughter in November 2009!
Nine years old
Since then she has overcome the tendency to constantly fall and bruise herself. She was determined to learn to ride bike, and after many falls and bruises, she won! She has gradually acquired some strength in muscles which never functioned previously. Lifting her leg onto the pedal with her hands, she pushes off and pedals with her left leg, riding like anyone else. If she stops or crashes to the right she must stretch out her hands and arms to catch herself and prevent her shoulder and head from striking the ground.
Perhaps we all should view difficulties and impossibilities as opportunities to develop tenacity and determination, part of preparing for an uncertain future.
