Sheila lived around the corner from me in elementary school. We attended the same schools in Santa Rosa through HighSchool… overlapping in being cheerleaders in elementary and middle school. yet  had not been in touch since mid-high school. Then a few very full months ago when some class mates of mine in Santa Rosa came to know about our struggle, Sheila joined the “team” that have become enthusiastically committed to seeing Ari and Dannie through to renewed health. Literally forty years of no contact, then she stepped up and gave us the most incredible gift of her love and presence. What do you say about a woman who comes along side your children when you are unable to be there? That bears witness to incredible suffering, who sacrifices time with her own family, travels half way around the world, lives in clinic, braves 110 degree weather, listens and loves, and listens again to me when give long lists of things to be considered, things to be done, when I repeat myself over and over out of the angst of not being there, that negotiates and monitors, washes dishes, comforts, packs and unpacks, not once but twice?

thank you is not sufficient. My heart is full. Dannie and Ari have been nurtured, loved, listened to, respected and deeply cared for. God truly hand picked her for this job, and she responded with “yes”.

Dannie and Sheila, just outside her room yesterday.

Below is a note from Sheila~

“This has been another wonderful life experience for me returning to Nu-Tech in India.

Really getting to know Dannie for who she is has been so heartwarming for me.  Dannie is a very concrete, solid, knows what she wants, and “doesn’t want kind of girl.  Once she gets well I can picture her in the Miss Universe competition.  Not only is she smart, intelligent, bright, but one of the most beautiful girls I have ever met, inside and out.  All the hopes and dreams she has will come true someday.  She is strong willed.  Her belief in God is very deep and trusting.  She’s not mad for being sick.  Just wants to get well, which she will, “no doubt.”  Sometimes God puts us in situations we do not understand, but always reasons for it.

Being here is a life changing experience.  You meet and go through daily life at the clinic with people from different places in the world.  Right now there are people here from Australia, Germany, Sudan, Africa and the U.S.

I thank our God for allowing me this opportunity to meet some of his “Angel”s” here on earth. Ari and Dannie are certainly two of them.  And their doggies Lilly and Wesley are the “Furry Angel’s.”

Thank you Kathleen for trusting in me to watch over your precious children and doggies.

Lots of love sent,

Sheila”