Great Deed To Keep Family Together
Dear Ann Landers: That letter from the man who signed himself “Porterville, Calif.” was truly sad. He was brought up away from his five siblings when his parents abandoned them. He was angry at the foster-care system for not taking all six children together.
Some years ago, when my husband and I were traveling near Denver, we looked up one of my childhood schoolmates. He and his wife had two cute little boys. Several years later, we visited again, and this time, there were also two little girls, whom they had adopted. My friend said the adoption agency told them, “Well, we have two sisters, and you can have either one.” My friend replied, “Sisters? Those girls have been through enough, and we’ll take both of them!”
My admiration for such love knows no bounds. Another friend raised 25 foster children and adopted two, even though she had four children of her own. It hasn’t been easy for her. Such kindness should humble all of us. - Seattle
Dear Seattle: I have tremendous respect for people who adopt siblings because they “want to keep the family together.” There must be a special place in heaven for those warmhearted people.
Dear Ann Landers: Chalk up another one for nurses who marry their patients. I’m a member of that club, also.
I met Ed in 1989, when I was a nurse’s aide and he was a patient awaiting surgery to donate a kidney to his sister. Donating a kidney is an act of great generosity, and I admired him for it at the outset.
People tease us about it, but working in a hospital was a great way for me to meet a terrific guy. I took his admitting history (which provided me with a background check), and I learned he was a sweet and caring person. I followed Ed after his arteriogram and checked on him after the surgery.
To make a long story short, he asked for my phone number, which I was delighted to give him. Our courtship was very romantic, and we were married in 1991. We now have two beautiful boys, and I couldn’t be happier. His sister is doing fine, too, and she also has a wonderful family. We love to tell people how we met, and I would be thrilled if you would print my letter. - Columbia, Mo.
Dear Columbia: Here it is. I hope Ed will be as thrilled as you are when he reads it in the paper.
Dear Ann Landers: I am a 16-year-old girl who has been reading your column every day for a long time, and I have learned a lot from it. You have printed many letters about alcoholism and those who must live with it. I am one who really appreciated those letters because a member of my family is an alcoholic. I hope you will print this letter so I can tell your teenage readers about Ala-Teen.
I have been attending Ala-Teen meetings for a long time and have received a lot of love and understanding from the folks I’ve met there. Teens need to know that if their mom, dad, uncle, aunt or grandparents drink, they can learn to deal with it. I learned by attending Ala-Teen meetings. The people I met there really helped me understand alcoholism. - Longview, Texas, Teenager
Dear Longview: Thanks for the great testimonial. You helped a lot of people today. Bless you. If there isn’t a group listed in the phone book, readers can call 1-800-344-2666 or write to Ala-Teen, 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach., VA 23454-5617, to find out where to go for a meeting. (Internet: www.alateen.org)