I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Gretchen…well, she’s actually my sister’s friend from nursing school but for the last 4 years she has become a friend of mine as well!
About four years ago, Gretchen asked my sister, Vickie, if she thought I would let her “borrow” my Ricky for a few hours. You see, her family was trying to adopt a baby locally who was going to be born soon and happened to have Down Syndrome. She wanted her SIX children to see what a child with DS was like! After spending some time with my amazing little man, I’m pretty sure they all were in love with him! Although they already had a name picked out for their new baby, the children all convinced their parents that he should now be named Ricky! Gretchen was worried that I would be upset by this and asked my sister what she thought. When Vickie told me they wanted to name their baby after Ricky, I remember just crying. My Ricky will never be able to father a child so to me, this was like his opportunity to have a child named after him, just like he was named after his daddy! In other words, I was deeply honored!!!
Fast forward four years…Gretchen is in Ukraine right now adopting another little man with Down Syndrome! She needs your prayers as the paperwork is causing some delays. You can read about her experience on her family blog. Her Ricky is the one of the left in the photo!
Gretchen is one of the most amazing advocates for people with DS that I know. She travels around the country to speak at rallies and the capitol, gives talks in Ethics classes at the University and is a huge supporter of Pro-Life Minnesota. We couldn’t drive anywhere in the metro area for the past 2 years without seeing her Ricky’s gorgeous face up on a huge billboard somewhere, advertising Pro-Life! Please keep this sweet family in your prayers as they bring home another one of God’s precious children!!
