I will never forget Michael's excitement two years ago when he went to camp for the first time. He had been so scared to go, but then when I went to pick him up, he jumped off the bus and ran to give me a big hug, a huge grin on his face. He had been so thrilled to be around other boys who have a limb difference. For once, he was in a group where he felt "normal" and around boys who could relate to his feelings. Both years he had been to the Adventure Amputee camp, I have seen a surge in his self-confidence when he got back. It's truly a blessing.
All kids with limb differences grow up feeling different. Parenting such a child requires a level of dedication I didn't know I had until I became Michael's mom. I have felt very supported by a wonderful Yahoo group for adoptive parents of kids with limb differences. Most of the kids come from China, but a few, like Mike, are from Eastern Europe.
A mom named Amy posted the story below yesterday, and I was so intrigued with it I asked her permission to post what she had written. It's a lovely story.
Our daughter is missing her right arm and after her first Shriner's visit in March, we went to Build-A-Bear. Our daughter picked out her bear and we went to dinner. While we were at dinner, the Build-A-Bear worker took off the bears right arm and sewed it up perfectly!! We came back and she picked out the outfit and stuffed it like all the other bears!! It was a great afternoon for our daughter and the store worker was great! If we went back again, I think I'd call ahead to make sure someone would do it, BUT she said it wasn't their first request for an 'amputee' bear. It's by far her favorite stuffed animal.
-Amy
