Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Gabi Is The Biggest Girl Here

This is Gabi. She's 4 & has a twin sister. They are both developmentally disabled, but with different severities, so they have spent most of their lives apart, at different facilities. Occasionally the authorities send them home to their parents. Since they spend so much time apart, the girls don't know they are sisters. After a few weeks at their parents' house, things get overwhelming & their parents send them back to the institutions. 

Gabi has very poor vision, so she "sees" with her mouth & nose. When she explores a toy or a person, she brushes her lips lightly over that thing or person & bumps her nose lightly against the surface & sniffs delicately. It's disarming to feel her soft skin & sweet breath against your face when she says hello. 

She has to have a ball in her hands at all times to be happy. She's just now learning to walk with some confidence, with help from a friend. She's a patient, affectionate girl who loves to eat. At the hospital, they feed the kids a mush of bread & applesauce every day, for every meal. They don't get solid food on weekends -- just bottles of milk or chai tea. Volunteers bring in yogurt & cheese puffs & cheerios & other new & exotic foods. Gabi is the resident taste tester. 

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Gabi Strolling Down the Hall With Her BFF

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket -- la reverdere

No comments: