The VanderKooi's Vida: How Can I Not Love This Child?

Our time with Afeefa is so busy-----diaper changes, sleepless nights, snotty noses, slooooowwww meal times, therapy, therapy, long trips to Detroit, occasional 2-year-old melt-downs, more therapy, and more sleepless nights. Sounds pretty horrible, I know----but I wouldn't trade it for the world! All day long I think to myself, "How can I not love this child?" When she says out of the blue, "Mama Kori, you are sooooo special," how can I not love her? When the kids get her laughing so hard that we're all in tears with laughter, I can't help but love her. When she accomplishes a new task in therapy with so much excitement and raises her arms and says "I'm the champion!" I have to just love her. In the quiet moments of singing songs, and when she joins in, singing in her tiny, sweet voice, my heart is warmed, and I am compelled to love her. It is such an honor to have Afeefa in our home; it is hard work, for sure. But just like raising our own children, joy abounds in and through it all. And I stand amazed at the things I know Afeefa sees when I think back to when we first met her and she had absolutely no vision. God has been so faithful and so good.

Yesterday we went to Detroit and Afeefa received her long awaited new glasses with elation! She was so excited to get them. She ordered pink ones this time; and yellow ones for her sunglasses. Both colors really are appropriate for such a cheerful child who truly brings a ray of sunshine wherever she goes.

Last week we had 3 appointments all one long day. The long and short of her progress is that there has been tremendous healing and significant functional visual improvement in one eye, but not so much in the other. For that reason, her surgeon really wants to see her back in 9 months. Some of you have received a FB invitation to sponsor Afeefa, some of you have received a personal note, and some of you are reading this for the first time. Either way, would you consider giving a financial gift to Healing the Children, with the gift designated for Afeefa Ally? Because of the on-going nature of the care she needs, it would be great if we could raise some funds so that there aren't excessive HTC resources going to one child and they continue to do the good work they are doing with other children, too. If you'd be willing to help out, you can make a check to Healing the Children, and you can send it directly to them. Just be sure to designate on the memo that it is for Afeefa Ally. Here's the pertinent information:

Healing The Children/Michigan-Ohio Chapter
2140 44th St. SE Ste. 204
Grand Rapids, Mi 49508

Some More Great Afeefa Quotes for Your Enjoyment
*While sitting at the dinner table, out of the blue: "I'm telling you, I am discombobulated!" ( a favorite word of hers that the kids taught her)

*Also at the dinner table, commenting on the meal, "This is NOT good!"

*Every time she brings something new up to her eyes to see: "WOW!!!!"

* She affectionately calls our van the "Mama Bus," and loves to go for rides.

Below are some pictures we thought you'd enjoy: