I wasn't all that supportive, but she figured I didn't need to be. Whereas in times past you went to adoption parties and such to check out the kids, now you could do it online and had the pickings of the entire country. She looked at several children, but she kept coming back to one particular child who happened to share her Daddy's birthdate. That child was Alexis, a special needs child in Portland, Oregon.
Alexis was 2 1/2 years old when we got to know her. She had been through one failed adoption, but had been with the same foster family since birth. She was removed from her biological mother immediately following delivery, as she tested positive for meth. Alexis was a meth baby. At 2 1/2 she was nonverbal and barely walking and would not be potty trained until 6-7 years of age. She was born with abnormalities in her hands and arms, as well as a cauliflower ear and profound hearing loss in both ears. For whatever reason though, Kim fell head over heals in love with her simply by looking at her picture and bio on the Internet.
We contacted the state of Oregon and let them know we were interested. We were one of three families they were considering. It was nerve racking as we awaited their decision, but we finally did get their call after several weeks. By the way, by this time Daddy was fully on board and she would eventually become a major Daddy's girl.
The first time we met Alexis was when we drove up the driveway to her foster home in our rental car just after we got off the plane. As we pulled into the driveway, she stood on the deck of her home with her foster mom smiling from ear to ear. Remember, she was nonverbal and had only made indistinguishable sounds to this point. Her first discernible word in her life was as Kim stepped out of the car and began walking up the driveway. Alexis reached out her hands and said very distinctly, "Ma". She melted our hearts!
We spent a week getting to know Alexis in Portland then returned home with her as ours. She has had much to overcome, but has steadily progressed forward from the first moment we met her. She has had hand surgery, several ear surgeries, and eye surgery. She has participated in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. She has struggled against social and physical anxiety. But she continues to triumph through it all.
She is a very typical autistic child, though we are certain her autistic symptoms are a direct result of drugs in her system at birth. She has overcome much though. She is walking and running with some limitations, and even rides a bike. Though her comprehension lacks, she reads pretty much at age level. She still has emotional outbursts, but not near as many as she did at 2 1/2 years of age. She can be sorely bashful and yet talk your ears off at the same time. She obsesses over some of the strangest things, yet can remember even the smallest details years down the road.
Alexis is often overshadowed by her younger more social standout sister. Everybody is amazed at Hannah's determination and strength to overcome, as well she is an amazing girl. Alexis too is an overcomer though. When we first brought her home, she could not even look at you in the eyes. She would have frequent meltdowns in crowds and strange situations. She still struggles with crowds, but has performed frequently with her church's children's choir. She also enjoys playing with her siblings and their friends. She sits through church as well without incident.
Alexis is most definitely an overcomer. She continues to grow and develop every day. We always worry, is she going to stop maturing at some point? But at this point she continues to mature a little more each day. She has a tremendous heart too. She loves to pray and make cards for those who are sick and in crisis. I don't know how much further she will develop, but this one thing I know, even if she were not to develop even a day beyond where she is, she will always be a special young lady who is sure to touch your heart....if you give her a chance...
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