Ukranian girl born without a face finds a 'sister' in the US | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Tuesday 28 July 2015

Ukranian girl born without a face finds a 'sister' in the US

6 year old Danica Wetmore had only ever lived inside a Ukrainian orphanage. In all that time, Thom and Tami Wetmore were the only ones who ever visited her.
"It's just, you felt it in your heart. We knew, as soon as I saw her. I knew, in my spirit, 'Go get your daughter,'" Tami Wetmore said. "That's exactly what I felt is, 'Go get your daughter.'"

Juliana Wetmore
Danica was born with Treacher-Collins syndrome, resulting in deafness and bones missing from her face. Because of her challenges, the Wetmores were told, the chances were, she'd be turned out of the orphanage when she got older to live on the streets.

6 years later, she's happy, loved, and safe with her family.

"She's quirky. Extremely inquisitive. Very artistic," Thom Wetmore said. "She loves drawing, painting, expressing herself."

At this point, perhaps you're wondering what would inspired a family to open their hearts to a girl with serious medical concerns from the other side of the world.

The answer is their daughter, Juliana. She was born into the family 6 years before Danica showed up.
She, too, has Treacher-Collins syndrome, but a much more severe case. Along with deafness, she was born without 40 percent of the bones in her face.
"You forget that there's anything different about her after she's sitting there for five minutes," Thom said.
Juliana has endured 45 surgeries for her face, but her body and her brain have always been perfectly healthy.
Her spirit is always bright.
"Pure love. She loves everybody. She doesn't judge anybody. She doesn't see anybody as different," Thom said. "She just takes everybody as the same."
"My favorite thing to do is watch movies. Watch TV. Play on the computer. Play with my sisters," Juliana said, talking like a typical 12-year-old.
"Whatever you first think of somebody when you see them on the outside, that's not what they are on the inside," Thom said.
Juliana on the inside is a girl whose strength inspired her parents to find room in their hearts for Danica, to understand the challenges ahead better than most.
"Danica had been in an orphanage for six-and-a-half years and no one had visited her," Tami said. "Nobody had ever inquired about her."
"We were the first and only ones," Thom added.
And the Wetmores' love didn't stop with Danica. After her, they still had more room in their hearts to adopt three siblings who desperately needed a home.

"It's just amazing how your daughter that you look at as just a normal, everyday child that looks a little bit different has changed so many lives," Thom said. "Because you realize it's OK to be who you are."
Nothing, it seems, comes easier to Juliana than that.

The Wetmores live in Tyler, Texas.

Source: USA Today

42 comments:

NaijaDeltaBabe said...

Living a purposeful life

AbokiDaWarriBoy said...

Subuhannallah!

Bonita Bislam said...

Hmm some medical conditions send cold shivers down my fragile spine mehn! Choi...

Mzz_Mary said...

Aaaaw
God bless you baby

Unknown said...

Na wa ooo if na here dem go cal d children ogbanje or smth else dy will throw dem in d bush tnk God dy weren't born here.pele o

BONARIO NNAGS said...

Awww! Their stories are so heart rendering.
Feels good to know they're happy and not limited by their rare issue.

~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA

Unknown said...

So kind of the family to adopt her. jacksoninem@gmail.com

Unknown said...

So kind of the family to adopt her. jacksoninem@gmail.com

Unknown said...

So kind of the family to adopt her. jacksoninem@gmail.com

@MEETD®EALEVANS™ said...

PARENTAL ADVISORY
***adult content***



Wonder wonder wonder










Unknown said...

Kai... Poor girl, God bless d wetmores . Dis medical condition tho

Unknown said...

Eiya. So touching.

Anonymous said...

If this were to be a Nigerian girl, most of us will probably say tufiakwa! forgive! etc and yet most of us claim that we are christian! Some even frown at couple adopting a child from an orphanage! What this man did is one of the many ways God asked us to show or express his love! its not just by sleeping inside a church 7 days a week, fasting etc. hope this changes our mindset! God bless the Wetmores.

yawanow said...

Its a pity. Im glad shez getting all the support and love.

Trendyify said...

Thats nice






























































































it is well

mikkyjanec said...

God bless them.

Unknown said...

Hmmm

Unknown said...

Eeeeeeeeeyah! How touching. It is well with her. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

Eeeeeeeeeyah! How touching. It is well with her. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

Eeeeeeeeeyah! How touching. It is well with her. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

Ouch!....it's well though

seyi crown said...

This pure love...thanks 4 showing her love

Unknown said...

God bless their beautiful hearts. How many of us van love a perfectly normal human being not to talk of loving a seriously abnormal being. I bet these people don't even go to church. Na only God know who de truly serve am.

ary said...

Awww a heartfelt story

The Lemonade Society said...

it is well god is in control

The Lemonade Society said...

i rili rili feel for her i swear

yourstrulyblogposts.blogspot.com said...

Awwwwwwwwww

Anonymous said...

we need more of these show of love and affection in this world that is full of wickedness and perversion.

Unknown said...

Bless уᵒᵘʳ heart δeα̲̅я̲̅!

A.K.A LIB'ier
mercycruise@yahoo.com

I B M bolubantin said...

She's such a beauty...

Unknown said...

This is the love God asked us to show. These days instead of being your brothers keeper, all we know is ourselves!

Unknown said...

Allahu Akbar!

Unknown said...

Gracious God

Gold's place said...

Juliana's face really scared the shit outta me...Sweet Lord! Is that for real??

Unknown said...

Thnk u! A purposeful life! #spreadingLove

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Its not about who can condemn the loudest but who can love the most. Our churches are too busy being focused on casting out demons they don't have time to help heal the world so the demons have no place to fester or grow

Unknown said...


oooh! Cant hold on to my tears. This is Love. A gr8 one at that.
May the Lord strengthen them with gr8ter love.

Remyne05 said...

God bless you!

Blessing Nwokonneya said...

GOD WILL SHOW YOU LOVE ALSO

Unknown said...

CHOI!!!! GRACIOUS GOD, OMNIPOTENT JEHOVAH, PLEASE BE THEIR LORD, LOVE AND FATHER

Anonymous said...

THAT IS NOT TRUE. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF SUCH CHILDREN IN NIGERIA. NA WE DEY USE OUR OWN MOUTH SPOIL OUR COUNTRY WITH SUCH HASITY GENERALISATION.

Anonymous said...

May God Bless The Wetmore

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