Tragedy Touches Home

My family and I chose a delightful young lady from Greenland to host for the 07-08 school year. August 10th, Rita arrived in Idaho with all my family at the airport to greet her when she stepped

 

My family and I chose a delightful young lady from Greenland to host for the  07-08 school year.  August 10^th, Rita arrived in Idaho with all my family at the airport to greet her when she stepped off the plane . . . she was quite surprised by all the people waiting for her. We knew she was the right girl for us!

Rita was very nervous about her first day of school and I felt like I was sending my baby off to kindergarten!  She came home and told me about her first day of school and I knew right away that we were supposed to host her.  From the start, our relationship was more than just a host mother and student, we were friends.  If she or I had something on our minds, we knew we could talk to each other.  During holidays, she would lend a hand during events for the students or as a family member for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Christmas time was an especially wonderful time because she was very excited to decorate and get things ready for the big day. 

Rita was an active skier, skiing competitively in her home country and was missing that part of her life.  Rita and I spoke about her wanting to be able to actively ski while she was here, and because my family doesn't ski, Rita and I decided it would be in her best interest to relocate her with a family who could provide her with the opportunity to ski.  In January, Rita moved in with a new family. Rita and I continued to talk almost everyday, went to lunch together and our relationship stayed strong.  

On March 2^nd, Rita's new host mother called to tell me that Rita had been in a sledding accident and had been airlifted to the hospital . . . my daughter drove me to the hospital immediately.  We were taken right away to see Rita in a trauma room.  She had been told that she had broken something in her back.  The next few days seemed to roll into one long day.  I called to Rita's parents in Greenland to share the awful news of their daughter's accident . . . they arrived two days later. We were together when the doctor explained that Rita had broken her back in three places and she might never walk again.

As the time grew closer for Rita to go to Denmark with her parents, I knew the separation would be difficult for me . . . and her.  Rita left wit her parents April 24.  That was when I fully realized just how close host families can be with their students.  Rita and I shared a very special bond and we stay in touch with each other.  The good news is that she is regaining some feeling in her legs . . . there is hope. 

So many of us host families grow close to our ‘children' while they live with us.  We share their pain as well as their joy.  I wouldn't trade my time with Rita for anything . . . I'm stronger than before, even if a little empty, too.  We faced, along with her parents, a very difficult time together . . . but it was preceded by many wonderful days of sharing and laughing.  Hosting does, indeed, change your life . . . for the better. 

 

For More Information on hosting contact Becky @ 888-485-2415 or email beckysanderson51@yahoo.com

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