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"This is one of the first
remembrances I would like to share with you about Wenona:
Close to 50 years ago my
daughter was injured at birth, resulting in cerebral palsy. She was,
non-the-less, a beautiful child. When she was close to two years old, and
barely sitting up by herself, Wenona sewed her the most treasured dress a
little girl could own. I remember it well. It was of a beautiful turquoise
blue-green (one of Wenona’s favorite colors). Around the skirt and up the
front of the bodice a wide row of white Swedish lace made the dress
strikingly, unique. I put the dress on her to take Rhonda to therapy where
we had been going. It was on this particular day, when my husband wasn’t
with me, the head nurse chose to call me in her office."
“This is to let you know, the
only way we can continue therapy with Rhonda is to have her here, full
time.” The nurse told me.
I looked at my beautiful baby
girl, in her dress sewed with loving fingers, and I was silent. Suddenly the
tears gushed down my face and I couldn’t control my sobs. With not another
word I picked up my child and left, never to return to that institution.
Whether that little garment saved my beautiful child from the conditions
where other children were placed, row after row, in cage like beds, I’ll
never know. But, I like to think that the web of love as gentle and strong
as that Swedish lace helped me through, and to make a decision, then and
there. Rhonda has been with us for almost 50 years and I can’t count the
numbers of times she has saved animals and children from some death dealing
happenings. For this, I say, first of all to our Creator’s son Jesus Christ,
and then to the woman who was truly like a mother to me, Wenona, “Thank
you.”
When my children were growing
up, I spoke with Wenona about my deep feelings regarding my faith from the
scriptures where these faiths came. She respected me in every way and put
away her own customs, so as not to encroach on mine, teaching our children
the faith of my father, grandfather and great grandfather.
I don’t think Wenona ever
totally understood the grief and sorrow I experienced, but she was a support
against prejudice toward Native Americans, and for a child, who was less
than perfect. She was a bastion of strength for me. This truly caused our
family to endure and push through as we work for a New World free of these
imperfections. I cannot judge, but I and my family will be comforted in the
belief that we will know our loving Mother again in this New World, where
she will be young and beautiful again. We plan to wrap our arms around her
and greet her where she stands before a beautiful bush of blooming flowers
she so loved. |
