Dearest Beloved Friends,
My late father-in-law, Joe, used to say, “The older I get, the faster time goes by.” Boy is that true! For a number of years, I have been working on a book to share what I have learned by being, “David’s Mom.” But something I have always wondered about was how to end my story.
This past weekend, my daughter, CJ, was over and happened to mention that her favorite movie while growing up was, “Never Ending Story.” Hearing the name of that movie made me smile, and I knew our stories truly are a “Never ending story.” I thought about how truly our lives are interwoven and how each is a Never-Ending Story. The final chapter is always being written.
Recently when I attended a wonderful event at the Bat Cave where my dear friend, Connor C., was honored. On that fun night, they gave him a check for $1000 to present to us and another check for $1000 to give to another charity.
I met Connor’s parents, Chris and Kaija shorty after they adopted him when they attended one of our Sharing social events.
Over the years, Chris and Kaija have become dear friends and have become an important part of Sharing. They are the kind of people I could turn to, no matter what my need was.
One time they helped me when one of my young Sharing mothers who had been diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) needed help. The treatments she was going through would make her exhausted and she could not keep up with her busy 18-month-old little boy with who had Down syndrome.
When she would come home from her treatments, she would have to lay on a special blanket that was cold to the touch. Laying on it helped her to feel better, even though physically she was exhausted.
When she asked if I knew anyone who might be able to help her the first names that came to my mind were Kaija and Chris. I knew Kaija was a busy mom with her daughter and her new little boy, but I also knew whenever I would ask for help, they would help me. When I called to tell her about this before she even knew what it was, she said, “Whatever it is, the answer is yes!”
I told her this was different. It was not just volunteering at an event. Kaija and Chris did care for that little boy for quite some time and they would never even consider me or his mother paying them.
Three years later, as they were leaving our Annual Sharing Down Syndrome Walk, I happened to see them. They thanked me and then Kaija surprised me by saying, “Hey Gina, when are you going to get me my little girl?” I was taken off guard by that comment.
During the 33 years I have been doing Sharing, I have been able to place seven beautiful babies into adoptive homes. But I never know when a new baby would be available. However, when Kaija made that comment I thought of a young expected mother who had recently called, expressing a desire to place her baby.
As they walked away, the thought in my mind was, “Maybe sooner than you think! “ When I got home, I tried to call that mother but with no luck. I left her a message. I kept trying to reach her, but with no luck.
I began to think that perhaps she had changed her mind and decided to keep her baby. I would leave messages that even if that was the case, I would love to meet her and her baby and help her.
Then late one afternoon I was sitting at home and thinking about her. So, I picked up the phone and called again. Again, it went to her answering machine. On that day, I was at home and as I was leaving my usual message, I happened to look up and see the picture hanging on my wall. It is a beautiful depiction of Jesus Christ. In that picture, there are sheep in the background. It depicts him leaving the “ninety and nine” as he went to search for that one lost sheep.
I love that picture because I think about how each of us have been that lost sheep at some time in our lives, including me. The artist, Liz Limon Swindle calls it, “Seeking the One.”
As I was leaving the message, the sweetest feeling filled my heart. I thought about something my faith teaches me. That no matter who we are or what we look like, we are all children of God. We believe that God lets us come to earth to learn and to grow. He gives us the ability to make choices in our lives.
But we believe something different about our children who have disabilities. We believe that God chose them for their unique mission and that they willingly accepted the mission to come to earth with their disability. They come to teach us things we could not learn in any other way. And for me, I know I have learned more from David about what truly matters in life.
Our kids do teach unconditional love. They do not judge others by how they look or what status they have achieved. They just accept people for who they are. They have the ability to “See as God sees and love as God loves.” I believe that people with Down syndrome are some of God’s most favorite people of all.
When I was trained as a parent-to-parent contact years ago, we were told not talk about God or religion. I obeyed those guidelines. But when I created Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona, I felt more comfortable sharing what I believed. I have met people from all walks of life and of many religious backgrounds. I love and respect them all.
But for me, I knew I could not tell them how much my David meant to me, without also telling them that I thank God for trusting me enough to let me be Davids’ Mom. So, as I was leaving the message, I found myself looking at the picture of Jesus. I felt such a gratitude to God. I found myself saying that I believed each of our children truly is a noble son or daughter of God.
So, as I was ending my message, I said, “I want you to know that I believe that though our children’s mortal body has a disability, I believe that their spirits inside, who they really are, is the most perfect and pure that God could ever find.” And without thinking I closed my words with “I share this in the name of Jesus Christ.”
No sooner did those words leave my mouth, when I felt a complete sense of panic! Even though I knew I meant every single word I said, I realized I could not go and erase the message I had left. I was not sure how she would take it.
I held my breath for a moment, not knowing what to do. A few days later, she returned my call. She said the reason I was not able to get in touch with her was because she had her baby prematurely. She had a baby girl. Her voice was so sweet and she thanked me for leaving her the message. I felt I needed to explain why I said what I did, but before I could say very much, she stopped me. She said there was something she needed to tell me.
She said the hospital had given her the names of two good families who wanted to adopt her baby, and she was trying to decide which one to choose. But then she heard my message, and she just knew that I should be the one to help her place her baby. Hearing her say that brought tears to my eyes. Without a doubt, “A coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
I felt so humbled and so grateful. I called Kaija immediately. When I told her I needed to ask her something again, she said, “Whatever it is, the answer is yes!” I told her this was different, that I was calling to tell her about a baby girl who needed to be adopted. With joy in her voice she said, “Whatever it is, the answer is yes!” ?
Two days later, at Thanksgiving time, they drove up to get their baby girl. That is how Cailin joined their family. Their family has grown and now they have five children and they are busy for sure. But I love that they chose to adopt two children who happen to have my favorite disability! 
When Conner was at the Batcave and riding in the Batmobile and in the side-car of the Batman motorcycle, I thought about the little boy, who I love who the foundation is named after, Colton Cowell.
I met Colton when his parents, Erika and Earl, brought him home from the hospital. I loved seeing how much they and their whole family adored Colton. When I met his grandma and learned she was a special educator, I knew Colton had chosen his family well.
On the day he was born, there was no way they could have known that less than three years later their beloved son would be gone.
The Leukemia that took his life could not take all they felt for their little son. After Colton passed away, Erika told me Colton made every day was a party! The year he was born they were the team who raised the most funding for my Sharing Walk and he was our Grand Marshall leading our Walk. That year we also presented them with the beautiful limited edition of the painting, “Gentle Heart” by Nancy Noel.
After Colton passed away, Erika pointed out to me that to Colton, every day was a party. He was born on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 2006 and he went to heaven on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2009. Every day he was here, he made his family smile.
Every time I am invited to the Bat Cave, my heart thinks about Colton who, even after he was gone, continues to bring a celebration to our world. I have spoken at many funerals but unfortunately, I could not attend his, because my beloved mother-in-law, grams, passed away at the same time. But parents express the same thing to me, even in their pain. “Even if I could have known how my story would end, I would do it all over again just for one more day, or week or year with him. (her)
But for as long as I live, I will thank God for Colton, for Connor, for Cailin and for my David. I love all children, but I am especially thankful for those who have Down syndrome. They are truly a gift. So though right now, even though you and I do not know how our stories will end, I trust the last chapter because I know the author.
Love,
Gina Johnson
aka “David’s Mom”
Colton Caldwell
Colton Caldwell
David and Gram’s