Shilpa/Keren – girl – age: 4 – Cerebral Palsy.
That is all that the piece of paper read.
When we got our ministry, and found out that we were going to be at Sarah's Covenant Home for special needs children, we were told there was several kids that they wanted us to focus on that usually don't get much attention. So we picked from a list of about 15 kids names at the Covenant Home. I looked for a young girl, preferaby under the age of 5. There were mostly older kids 12 and older which was interesting. When I found Shilpa on the list it said age 4 CP ( Cerebral Palsy). I decided that she was my girl for the month. Later on, I found out some more information about her that the paper I had read hadn't said, she was blind . Even before I met her I was extremely anxious about caring for a blind girl. I hadn't ever inteacted with any one who was blind so I was overwhelmed at the thought of it. Well , the first day comes around and I meet Shilpa. This girl is so beautiful and so precious. She was laying on the bed half dressed and as soon as I spoke to her, she lit up. It was so sweet.Even though she couldn't see me and didn't know who I was, she was happy I was there and I was holding her. I learned some techniqes to help stretch out her musscles ( her leg are bowed and he arms are stiff) and to help her sit up and hold her head up. So every day I hold her in my lap and I sat her up so she could get the hang of sitting, I massage her musscles on her arms and legs,
and then I put her on her stomach so she could practice lifting her head and using her neck. I continually pray over her and I sing to her. (She really likes music.) One day when she was laying on her stomach she suddenly lifted her head all by herself. I was so excited pretty sure I sqealed. I just kept telling her good job! Also in the past couple weeks she also has become a lot more vocal, she moves her arms and legs more, and she opens her hands instead of havng clenched fists. I am so excited for Shilpa and it keeps me looking forward to what else God is going to do in her not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. God's got plans for her and I am so excited to be at least a brief part of it.
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