Lina's Story

In 2003 I hosted a Bible study in our home, The Excellent Wife. One of my friends in the Bible study group suggested I read a book titled The Boy Called It. I said I didn’t have time, but Vivian insisted, bringing it to me the next Thursday. I began the book, getting physically sick, as the author lived through one of the worst documented cases of child abuse. I quickly got the rest of the trilogy and read them with tears in my eyes and my children at my side. I suggested (almost demanded) to my husband that we needed to become foster parents. Rob, always calm and always compassionate said, “Let’s pray about it.” So we prayed…for 9 months.

Then my mother-in-law said that she had been approached by a man at church regarding a little girl that needed a place to stay for a year while she received surgery from Shriner’s Hospital in Tampa. As she began to speak, Rob and I both knew that we were to take care of this little girl. Rob’s mom was amazed that we were so certain about taking her however we all share faith in God and just knew he had everything under control. That evening we had a family meeting to discuss Lina. We told our biological daughters, Hannah and Mary, her story. With a tear in her eye, Hannah said, “We just have to help her Mommy!” The next day we had a picture of her e-mailed to us, so that we would all know what to expect. I was shocked! After breakfast we all prayed and held hands around the computer, I showed the girls her picture. Mary, four at the time, said, “Ya, I can play with her, “ and proceeded to gather toys and clothes for her. We began the paperwork to be a foster home through Healing the Children and Lina was given to us on January 14, 2004.

Before coming to our home, Lina stayed with a wonderful family in Indiana but this was short lived... The hospital that was to donate services for her backed out soon after Lina arrived in Indiana. When she came to us she couldn’t speak, still wore a diaper at night, and was a child with no boundaries. It took eight months to get her first surgery with Shriner’s, due to behavioral issues. Needless to say, this wasn’t going to be the one year commitment we signed up for. She has had four surgeries at Shriner’s and things probably would have continued in this direction except, her Visa was denied after our 5th extension. Our family had decided that Lina was so much a part of us that we would adopt her. Being that she had no family to speak of, we were able to proceed with adoption. Last year we went to Colombia to finalize her adoption and the Lord gave us our son John. We went with NO intentions of another child, but God had a better plan. While in Colombia I was able to meet the doctors that saved her life. Lina was burned by a candle that caught fire to netting around her crib at 7 days of age. She was so young that it was impossible to graft the skin from her own body so synthetic skin was used. Her biological mother relinquished Lina immediately after bringing her to the hospital. She was in the hospital for 7 months and then given to series of foster families in Colombia. Previous to adopting Lina we had no insurance for her. Her pediatrician saw her at no cost to us, along with our dentist (a GREAT MAN). Since we now have insurance I started doing research on the Internet for doctors specializing in reconstructive burn survivor surgery. I sent e-mails to several doctors, many stating that there really was not much more that could be done for her outside of what Shriner’s was already doing. I am so thankful for all the Shriner’s have done for us, but in order for Lina to have even a small chance at a “normal” life -- she needed something aggressive. Then I received a call from Dr. Rose. He said the first thing I need to do is meet him. He spent at least ½ hour on the phone with me that first day. I could tell he was a kind, gentle, caring man and I couldn’t wait to meet him. Rob was thinking this was an effort in futility, I told him how much I had prayed about Lina, and the right doctor, and her life and he said, “ I trust you.” So I gave Nancy my credit card number, knowing we didn’t have the $450.00 consult fee, or the plane fare. God again prevailed for Lina. We received financial assistance in both of these areas. After spending about two hours with Dr. Rose I was so excited for Lina, then it was time to sit with Linda. She said it would be a lot of money to do all that needed to be done for Lina. The tears streamed down my face. I left the office that day with a determination to pray--A LOT.

The love we have with in our family is immeasurable. We know that the Lord has a huge plan for Lina and all of us share in the hope of giving her a chance, a real chance at life.